Is taxpayer-funded lobbying hurting Texas taxpayers? In this video, we break down how Texas local governments are using public dollars to hire lobbyists to influence state legislation, raising serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and conflicts of interest.
From the 85th to the 89th Texas Legislature, taxpayer-funded lobbying spending has more than doubled, reaching as much as an estimated $111.5 million. These taxpayer-backed lobbyists have consistently opposed key reforms, including:
Property tax relief
Local regulatory preemption
School choice initiatives
This practice allows government entities to lobby against the very taxpayers who fund them—undermining trust and distorting the legislative process.
What’s the solution?
The Texas Legislature can take action by amending Government Code §556.005 to ban political subdivisions from using taxpayer dollars to hire registered lobbyists or fund associations that lobby on their behalf, bringing local governments in line with existing restrictions on state agencies.
👉 Read our latest research paper on taxpayer-funded lobbying.