Bill: SB 10, 87(R) - 2021

Committee

Senate Local Government

2nd Chamber Committee

House State Affairs

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral

Author(s)

Paul Bettencourt
Brian Birdwell
Donna Campbell
Brandon Creighton
Bob Hall
Kelly Hancock
Bryan Hughes
Angela Paxton
Charles Perry
Drew Springer

Sponsor(s)

Chris Paddie

Bill Caption

Relating to certain requirements applicable to political subdivisions and other entities that engage in lobbying and to the applicability of lobbyist registration requirements to a person who provides legal services to a political subdivision.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

Bill Analysis

CSSB 10 seeks to address issues regarding the transparency of political subdivisions and certain government and nonprofit entities when they spend public money on lobbyists.

The bill would require a governing body of the political subdivision/entity to obtain a majority vote in an open meeting to authorize the expenditure(s).

These political subdivisions and government and nonprofit entities must disclose information regarding their actions and expenditures with lobbyists in their websites.

If a political subdivision or other entity does not comply with the requirements, a resident or a person receiving services from the political subdivision or entity may file a complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission against the political subdivision or entity.

Vote Recommendation Notes

We supported SB 10 when it was under consideration in the Senate. The Senate version of the bill would have served the interests of taxpayers by significantly limiting the ability of local governments to expend taxpayer funds to lobby for tax increases and other policies that are against the interests of taxpayers. The House committee substitute has fundamentally altered the nature of the bill and watered it down to the point of near meaninglessness.

As it stands on second reading, CSHB 10 is an affront to the hard work and diligence of taxpayer advocates who have tirelessly worked to curb the excesses of taxpayer funded lobbying by political subdivisions of the state. We withdraw our support from the bill and recommend amending it to restore the Senate engrossed version. 


Source URL (retrieved on 03/29/2024 04:03 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/87r/sb10?print_view=true