Bill > HB296

This bill restricts how political subdivisions (like counties) can use public funds for lobbying activities. Specifically, political subdivisions are prohibited from spending public money to hire registered lobbyists to influence legislators, or to pay nonprofit associations that primarily represent political subdivisions and employ such lobbyists. However, the bill does allow for certain exceptions, such as allowing government officials and employees to provide information to legislators, appear before legislative committees, and advocate for or against legislation without requiring lobbyist registration. The bill also provides that if a political subdivision violates these restrictions, a taxpayer or resident can seek an injunction to stop the activity and can recover their legal costs if successful. The law applies to expenditures made on or after the bill's effective date, and any contract terms that violate the new restrictions will be considered void. For counties specifically, the bill amends existing law to clarify that they can only spend general fund money on nonprofit associations that do not engage in certain lobbying activities, and it provides a mechanism for taxpayers to challenge such expenditures if they believe the association is improperly influencing legislation.

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=891&Bill=HB296