Legislation to Ban Taxpayer-funded Lobbying Filed in the Texas House

[Elderberry]

Texas Scorecard by  Sydnie Henry March 6, 2023

“Texas families have been forced to fund escalating attacks on conservative priorities at the legislature, and that stops this session.”

Republican State Rep. Ellen Troxclair of Spicewood has filed legislation in the Texas House to prohibit public funds from being used to hire registered lobbyists.

Troxclair’s House Bill 3538 is identical to Senate Bill 175, filed by State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R–Wallisville) in the Texas Senate.

If the Legislature bans the practice, school districts and cities will be barred from spending taxpayer money on their own interests.

Background

In 2020, more than 94 percent of Republican voters supported a ballot proposition banning taxpayer-funded lobbying.

The two most cited examples of institutions engaging in taxpayer-funded lobbying in recent years are the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). TASB and TASA are taxpayer-funded through dues from local school districts (which, in turn, levy property taxes). TASB and TASA employ Austin lobbyists to fight against taxpayer interests and parental rights.

Although banning taxpayer-funded lobbying is a longtime conservative priority and was a legislative priority for the Texas GOP in the 2021 legislative session, the Texas House killed the legislation after the Texas Senate passed it.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/state/legislation-to-ban-taxpayer-funded-lobbying-filed-in-the-texas-house/