With taxpayer-funded lobbying on the agenda for the current special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott, the issue has also become a point of debate in the ongoing race for Texas Comptroller.
Kelly Hancock, a former state senator now serving as acting comptroller, has drawn scrutiny from some Republican voters for his record on the matter. During the 2025 legislative session, Hancock was one of seven Republicans who joined Democrats in supporting an amendment to weaken a proposed ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying. The amendment created exemptions for organizations such as the Texas Association of School Boards.
Following the vote, the Republican Party of Texas passed a resolution condemning the change and accusing those who backed it of codifying taxpayer-funded lobbying in state law.
Hancock has not responded to a request for comment. Records show he has received $298,111 from lobbyists and firms involved in taxpayer-funded lobbying since taking office in 2006.
Former State Sen. Don Huffines, who has accepted $32,750 from the same types of donors since his time in office starting in 2014—the least among the three current candidates—has made the issue a central part of his campaign.
“To stop government corruption, taxpayer-funded lobbying must end. Texans should never be forced to bankroll lobbyists who fight against our conservative values and shield corruption,” Huffines told Texas Scorecard.
“I’ve been leading the fight to ban this abusive practice for years, and I’m hopeful it finally ends during this special session. As your next Comptroller, I will continue to be a watchdog for taxpayers, just as I’ve been throughout my entire life. I exposed one of the largest government corruption scandals in modern Texas history,” he said, referring to the takedown of the Dallas County Schools scheme. “Millions were stolen. Six people went to prison. And $1.3 million taxpayer dollars were spent on taxpayer-funded lobbyists, hired to block my investigation. I will use the Comptroller’s office to DOGE Texas. That means aggressively rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse. I’ve done it before, I will do it again.”
Current Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick, also running for comptroller, says she supports banning the practice.
“As a candidate dedicated to the needs of Texans, I stand against taxpayer-funded lobbying. Senate Bill 12 is a step in the right direction toward restoring power and control back to taxpayers,” Craddick told Texas Scorecard.
“Texans deserve accountability and transparency when it comes to how their hard-earned money is being spent. In traveling across the state and visiting with local communities, I’m hearing more and more complaints from citizens whose taxes continue to rise without any explanation as to where that funding goes. That’s exactly why I’ve made the creation of a local government efficiency task force a top priority in my race for Comptroller. Texans deserve a good steward of their tax dollars, and they certainly deserve to know how their money is being spent.”
Records show Craddick has received $216,433 from firms and PACs tied to taxpayer-funded lobbying since 2012.
While taxpayer-funded lobbying remains on the special session agenda, legislative progress on the issue is currently stalled due to a Democrat-led quorum break.
