The Senate engrossed version of SB 702 advances some important transparency and accountability measures related to taxpayer-funded lobbying, including:
- A requirement that certain state agencies and most local governmental entities hold a vote in an open meeting to approve or reject expenditures meant to influence legislation at the Capitol. The vote must be approved as a stand-alone item on the agenda at the meeting.
- The creation of new lobbying activity reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission and published on the entity’s website.