AUSTIN- Local governments are spending as much as $98 million to lobby the state government, using tax dollars that could go to public safety, infrastructure, or tax relief, according to a new report by the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

“Local governments are lobbying state government for more government. The obvious outcome of this activity is higher taxes, more spending, and the continued California-zation of Texas governments,” said TPPF’s James Quintero. “The 89th Texas Legislature must make it a top priority to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying.”

According to a poll conducted by WPA Intelligence for TPPF, 8 in 10 Texans oppose using tax dollars to hire lobbyists.

Here are a few other key points from the report:

  • The practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying violates the principles of constitutional order and limited government.
  • Local governments that spend tax dollars to hire lobbyists oftentimes do so for the purpose of securing higher taxes, more spending, and greater regulatory authority.
  • In 2023, local governments spent as much as $98.6 million to hire contract lobbyists—an increase from $75 million in 2021.

Read the full research paper here.

Watch our panel from Texas Policy Summit 2025 on taxpayer-funded lobbying here.