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Bill > HB186


TX HB186

TX HB186
Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.


summary

Introduced
08/18/2025
In Committee
08/20/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
09/03/2025

Introduced Session

89th Legislature 2nd Special Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.

AI Summary

This bill restricts how political subdivisions (governments can use public funds for lobbying activities. Specifically, political subdivisions are prohibited from spending public funds to hire registered lobbyists to lobby state legislators, or to pay nonprofit associations that primarily represent political subdivisions and hire such lobbyists. However, the bill allows several exceptions, including: allowing political subdivision officers and employees to provide information to legislators, appear before legislative committees, and advocate for or against legislation without triggering lobbyist registration requirements; reimbursing officers for travel expenses related than increlated activities; and allowing nonprofitfits representing political subdivisions to perform legislative activities like bill tracking and providing non-lobbying information. If a political subdivision violagesates these restrictions, taxpayers or residents can seek injunctive relief and recover their legal costs. The bill also modifies existing law regarding county county association memberships to align with these new new lobbrestrictionsions, rendering any contract provisions that violate these restrictions void upon the law's effective date, which will be 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (73)

Mike Olcott (R)* Daniel Alders (R),  Trent Ashby (R),  Cecil Bell (R),  Keith Bell (R),  Greg Bonnen (R),  Brad Buckley (R),  Ben Bumgarner (R),  Angie Button (R),  Briscoe Cain (R),  David Cook (R),  Tom Craddick (R),  Charles Cunningham (R),  Pat Curry (R),  Jay Dean (R),  Mano DeAyala (R),  Mark Dorazio (R),  Paul Dyson (R),  James Frank (R),  Gary Gates (R),  Stan Gerdes (R),  Ryan Guillen (R),  Sam Harless (R),  Cody Harris (R),  Caroline Harris Davila (R),  Brian Harrison (R),  Richard Hayes (R),  Cole Hefner (R),  Hillary Hickland (R),  Janis Holt (R),  Andy Hopper (R),  Lacey Hull (R),  Todd Hunter (R),  Carrie Isaac (R),  Helen Kerwin (R),  Stan Kitzman (R),  Marc LaHood (R),  Brooks Landgraf (R),  Jeff Leach (R),  Terri Leo-Wilson (R),  Mitch Little (R),  Janie Lopez (R),  David Lowe (R),  J.M. Lozano (R),  Shelley Luther (R),  John McQueeney (R),  Will Metcalf (R),  Morgan Meyer (R),  Brent Money (R),  Matt Morgan (R),  Candy Noble (R),  Tom Oliverson (R),  Angelia Orr (R),  Jared Patterson (R),  Dennis Paul (R),  Katrina Pierson (R),  Keresa Richardson (R),  Nate Schatzline (R),  Alan Schoolcraft (R),  Matt Shaheen (R),  Joanne Shofner (R),  Shelby Slawson (R),  David Spiller (R),  Valoree Swanson (R),  Carl Tepper (R),  Tony Tinderholt (R),  Steve Toth (R),  Ellen Troxclair (R),  Cody Vasut (R),  Denise Villalobos (R),  Wesley Virdell (R),  Trey Wharton (R),  Terry Wilson (R), 

Last Action

Referred to State Affairs (on 08/20/2025)

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