Among the Texas GOP’s top priorities heading into the 2027 legislative session is a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying. Delegates to the 2026 GOP convention in Houston produced a report outlining what such a measure should entail.
Taxpayer-funded lobbying is when any governmental entity that collects taxes hires lobbyists to influence state and local governments to make decisions that benefit the entity, and not necessarily the taxpayer. For years, Republicans have been seeking to ban the use of taxpayer dollars for lobbying.
According to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, taxpayer-funded lobbying typically occurs in three main ways. First, local governments such as townships hire registered lobbyists to advocate on their behalf. Lobbying firms also hire in-house government relations staff who meet with lawmakers and track the legislative process to better influence outcomes. Finally, some entities, such as school boards, collect dues and then hire lobbyists to advocate at the Capitol. These three forms of lobbying are not regulated in the same manner.
TPPF has also found that as much as $111.5 million has been spent in a single legislative session, and over 1,000 lobbyists have represented a single taxpayer client. These figures show that taxpayer-funded lobbying is a “major force in the Texas legislative process.”
Taxpayer-funded lobbyists often advocate for increased budgets and taxation authority at the state and local levels. They also often oppose policies supported by Texans, such as tax cuts, school choice, and transparency programs.
Republicans’ key concern with taxpayer-funded lobbying is that it undermines the people’s will and uses tax money to fight against their wishes. Allowing governments to spend taxpayer dollars to advocate for increased budgets or higher taxes creates a conflict of interest and a reversed order of priorities.
A longtime Republican priority, legislation to ban the practice died in the House State Affairs Committee in 2025. Chaired by State Rep. Ken King (R–Canadian), the committee never granted the legislation a hearing.
A ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying has cleared the Texas Senate in multiple legislative sessions but has repeatedly died in the House.
The next legislative session is slated to begin on January 12, 2027.
