Bill Text: TX HB170 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to certain requirements applicable to certain public entities that engage in lobbying.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-23 - Referred to State Affairs [HB170 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB170-Introduced.html
88R2356 CJD-D | ||
By: Spiller | H.B. No. 170 |
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relating to certain requirements applicable to certain public | ||
entities that engage in lobbying. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 556, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Section 556.0056 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 556.0056. RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING EXPENDITURES AND | ||
REIMBURSEMENTS BY CERTAIN PUBLIC ENTITIES. (a) This section | ||
applies only to the following public entities: | ||
(1) a political subdivision that imposes a tax; | ||
(2) a political subdivision or special district that | ||
has the authority to issue bonds, including revenue bonds; | ||
(3) a regional mobility authority; | ||
(4) a transit authority; | ||
(5) a regional tollway authority; | ||
(6) a special purpose district, including a municipal | ||
utility district and a municipal management district; | ||
(7) a public institution of higher education; | ||
(8) a community college district; | ||
(9) a publicly owned utility; and | ||
(10) a river authority or water supply corporation. | ||
(b) The governing body of a public entity may not spend | ||
public money or provide other compensation to contract with a | ||
person required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 to | ||
communicate directly with one or more members of the legislative | ||
branch to influence legislation pending before the legislature | ||
unless the expenditure is: | ||
(1) authorized by a majority vote of the governing | ||
body of the entity in an open meeting of the governing body; and | ||
(2) voted on by the governing body as a stand-alone | ||
item on the agenda at the meeting. | ||
(c) A public entity that contracts with a person required to | ||
register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 in accordance with this | ||
section must publish on the entity's Internet website: | ||
(1) the amount of money authorized under Subsection | ||
(b) for the purpose of contracting with the person; | ||
(2) the name of the person; | ||
(3) a copy of the contract; | ||
(4) the amount of money, if any, spent by the entity | ||
for membership fees or dues to a nonprofit state association or | ||
organization of similarly situated entities that contracts with a | ||
person required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305; and | ||
(5) a copy of any current legislative agenda or | ||
resolution adopted by the entity. | ||
(d) A person required to register as a lobbyist under | ||
Chapter 305 that contracts with a public entity in accordance with | ||
this section may not communicate directly with a member of the | ||
legislative branch on behalf of the entity regarding legislation | ||
pending before the legislature that specifically proposes to amend | ||
Section 26.04(c) or 26.041(c), Tax Code. | ||
(e) Notwithstanding other law, a public entity may not | ||
provide reimbursement to a person required to register as a | ||
lobbyist under Chapter 305 for an expenditure made by the person for | ||
food, beverages, or entertainment. | ||
(f) If a public entity does not comply with the requirements | ||
of this section, a resident of or person receiving services from the | ||
entity may file a sworn complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission | ||
against the entity in accordance with Section 571.122. | ||
(g) This section does not prevent an officer or employee of | ||
a public entity from: | ||
(1) providing information for a member of the | ||
legislative branch; | ||
(2) appearing before a legislative committee; or | ||
(3) communicating directly with one or more members of | ||
the legislative branch to influence legislation pending before the | ||
legislature. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 2254.030, Government Code, is repealed. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 556.0056, Government Code, as added by | ||
this Act, applies only to a payment or other compensation described | ||
by that section made under a contract entered into on or after the | ||
effective date of this Act. A contract entered into before the | ||
effective date of this Act under which a payment or other | ||
compensation described by that section is made is governed by the | ||
law in effect on the date the contract was entered into, and the | ||
former law is continued in effect for that purpose. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |