HB 36 — Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying and certain other activities.

Bill Text

Compared against the Texas statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 2 section(s) of the Texas statutes: Section 556.0056, Government Code, Section 89.002, Local Government Code.

• Section 556.0056, Government Code

  Sec. 556.0056. RESTRICTION ON USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FOR LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. (a) A political subdivision may not spend public funds: (1) to hire an individual required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 for the purpose of lobbying a member of the legislature; or (2) to pay a nonprofit state association or organization that: (A) primarily represents political subdivisions; and (B) hires or contracts with an individual required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305. (b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit: (1) an officer or employee of a political subdivision from providing information for a member of the legislature or appearing before a legislative committee; (2) an elected officer of a political subdivision from advocating for or against or otherwise influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of legislation pending before the legislature while acting as an officer of the political subdivision; (3) an employee of a political subdivision from advocating for or against or otherwise influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of legislation pending before the legislature if those actions would not require a person to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305; (4) a political subdivision from reimbursing an officer or full-time employee of the political subdivision for direct travel expenses incurred by the officer or employee for engaging in an activity described by Subdivision (1), (2), or (3); or (5) a full-time employee of a nonprofit state association or organization that primarily represents political subdivisions of this state from: (A) providing legislative services related to bill tracking, bill analysis, and legislative alerts; (B) communicating directly with a member of the legislature to provide information if the communication would not require a person to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305; or (C) testifying for or against legislation before the legislature. (c) If a political subdivision engages in an activity prohibited by Subsection (a), a taxpayer or resident of the political subdivision is entitled to appropriate injunctive relief to prevent further activity prohibited by that subsection and further payment of public funds related to that activity. (d) A taxpayer or resident who prevails in an action under Subsection (c) is entitled to recover from the political subdivision the taxpayer's or resident's reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in bringing the action.

  added

• Section 89.002, Local Government Code

  The neither the association nor an employee of the association directly or indirectly influences or attempts to influence the outcome of any legislation pending before the legislature, except that this subdivision does not prevent a person from providing information for a member of the legislature or appearing before a legislative committee at the request of the committee or the member of the legislature; and (5) or (5) or (5) → Except as provided by Section 556.0056, Government Code, the and

  amended

Action History

1. July 14, 2025

   Filed

Sponsors

• Leo Wilson · Cosponsor
• Steve Toth · Cosponsor
• David Spiller · Cosponsor
• Richard Hayes · Cosponsor
• Greg Bonnen · Cosponsor
• Cole Hefner · Primary
• Will Metcalf · Primary
• Jared Patterson · Primary

Subjects