Taxpayer-funded lobbying (TFL) refers to the practice of political subdivisions expending public monies to influence legislative or administrative actions. As a result, through taxes, Texans subsidize speech without their consent, speech that is frequently contrary to their values and interests. Estimates place total TFL expenditures as high as $98.6 million in 2023, costs ultimately borne by citizens. These government-led political influence efforts commonly focus on securing “larger budgets, more taxing authority, and greater regulatory control.”
During the 89th Regular Session, members filed multiple proposals to prohibit political subdivisions from hiring registered lobbyists or otherwise financing registered lobbyists through associations with taxpayer dollars, including House Bills (HBs) 309, 571, 671, 1189, 1294, 1313, 3257, 3615, 4860 and Senate Bills (SBs) 19, 239, 1420, and 1695. While none of these measures ultimately passed, SB 19 advanced the furthest in the legislative process by reaching the opposite chamber.
