Despite years of calls from Texas voters to end the use of taxpayer dollars for lobbying, legislation to ban the practice died in committee this session, leaving Texans footing a multi-million-dollar lobbying bill.
For years, both Democrat and Republican voters have called on elected officials to outlaw the use of tax dollars for lobbying. This issue was even a legislative priority this session for the Republican Party of Texas.
Despite a Republican-controlled House and Senate creating ideal conditions for change, five pieces of legislation aimed at ending this practice ultimately died in the House State Affairs Committee, chaired by State Rep. Ken King (R–Canadian).
Meanwhile, taxpayer-funded lobbying expenditures continue to reach high levels.
By the end of the year, taxpayers are set to be billed for up to $94.5 million on lobbyists. Though this marks a slight decrease compared to the $98.6 million spent by local governments in 2023, both figures are markedly higher than the $75 million spent on lobbyists in 2021.
This uptick is even more dramatic when noting that in 2017, taxpayer-funded lobbying amounted to $41 million. Unlike the average increase in taxpayer-funded lobbying over time, bipartisan support against such practices has remained roughly constant within that timeframe.
Polling data from 2019 and 2021 shows that the majority of Texans—Republican and Democrat—support a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying.
Conservative opposition to the practice was clearly voiced this session. In August 2023, State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R–Deer Park) posted that “Texas is going to ban taxpayer funded lobbying in 2025,” to which State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R–Lubbock), who was later elected speaker of the House, replied, “Show me voting aye.”
A myriad of bills were introduced to ban this practice, including: Senate Bill 19, Senate Bill 2330, House Bill 309, House Bill 571, and House Bill 4525.
SB 19 moved the furthest, passing the Senate and being referred to the House State Affairs Committee.
State Rep. Brent Money (R–Greenville) told Texas Scorecard that King, who chaired the committee, outright refused to consider the proposal.
Like similar legislation filed this session, SB 19 joins a long line of anti-taxpayer-funded lobbying legislation that died in years past stretching back to 1997.
The Texas GOP, meanwhile, has made its opposition towards taxpayer-funded lobbying explicit in its platform since 2018.
The Republican-controlled Texas Senate has passed legislation banning taxpayer-funded lobbying for each of the last four legislative sessions, only for it to die in the House.
The fate of taxpayer-funded lobbying appears to hinge on House Republicans. As related expenditures remain high, fiscal responsibility advocates continue to press lawmakers to end the practice.
