Bill > HB223

This bill modifies Section 252.022(a) of the Local Government Code to remove an existing exemption for certain professional services procurement, specifically targeting lobbying, government relations, and similar services intended to directly or indirectly influence state or federal lawmakers on behalf of a municipality. Under the current law, municipalities were previously exempt from competitive bidding requirements for personal, professional, or planning services. The bill now explicitly requires municipalities to follow standard competitive procurement processes when seeking lobbying or government relations services, which means they would need to solicit competitive bids or proposals instead of directly selecting a vendor. The change aims to increase transparency and potentially reduce costs by ensuring multiple service providers have an opportunity to compete for municipal contracts. The bill will apply only to procurement contracts made on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, giving municipalities time to adjust their procurement practices. By removing the blanket exemption for these specific professional services, the legislation seeks to promote more competitive and potentially more cost-effective approaches to hiring lobbying and government relations consultants.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB223