Late Wednesday night, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 19 (SB 19), a measure intended to ban “taxpayer-funded lobbying.” However, in a twist that frustrated some conservatives, an amendment was added that exempts key organizations such as the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), raising questions about the bill’s ultimate effectiveness.
The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), aims to prevent local governments from using taxpayer dollars to hire registered lobbyists. It also grants citizens the ability to sue localities that violate the ban. However, constitutional offices, such as county sheriffs, are not subject to the prohibition.
A Longtime Conservative Priority With a Rocky History
For years, Texas conservatives and the Republican Party have pushed for a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, citing concerns that taxpayer dollars should not be used to influence legislation. But despite past efforts, similar bills have repeatedly failed in the Texas House.
In 2019, a similar bill nearly passed but was ultimately derailed by an amendment that exempted all but the most populous counties. In previous sessions, opposition from a coalition of rural Republicans and Democrats helped kill the legislation. However, after the 2024 primaries saw many of these rural Republicans lose their seats, advocates believed this year’s effort had a stronger chance.
The TASB Controversy and a Key Amendment
A major focus of the taxpayer-funded lobbying debate has been TASB, an organization that provides legal, financial, and human resources services to school boards—along with lobbying efforts on behalf of its members. Critics argue that TASB uses public funds to push an agenda, while supporters claim the group simply helps local school boards navigate state policies.
Middleton has been a vocal critic of TASB, but on Wednesday, the organization secured a major victory despite SB 19's passage. State Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) introduced an amendment that exempts TASB and similar nonprofit organizations from the ban.
Before Nichols’ amendment, the bill allowed nonprofit organizations to engage in basic legislative activities like bill tracking and analysis but banned them from hiring lobbyists. The amendment explicitly allows these groups to hire full-time staff members who are registered lobbyists, so long as they don’t contract outside lobbyists.
Nichols defended his amendment, arguing that he wanted to support the bill while ensuring local governments and school boards retained a voice in the legislative process. “I really wanna vote for this bill,” Nichols said. “And so I hate to put something like that up and it’d be considered a hostile amendment … I’m trying to be helpful and make sure the voices back home can be heard.”
Republican Divide and What’s Next
While Middleton opposed the amendment, seven Republican senators joined Democrats in approving it:
Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels)
Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills)
Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston)
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham)
Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown)
Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville)
The amendment’s passage suggests lingering divisions among Texas Republicans on how far to go with restricting lobbying by local governments. Notably, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was absent from the proceedings, as he was in Washington, D.C., for a Trump administration event announcing the closure of the U.S. Department of Education.
Now, the bill moves to the Texas House, where its fate is uncertain. The House could strip Nichols’ amendment, which would likely spark another round of debate between conservatives and moderates. With a new House Speaker more open to the measure, the bill’s supporters see their best chance yet to get a ban across the finish line—but whether it will remain in its current form is another question.
For now, SB 19 moves forward with a significant loophole, ensuring that organizations like TASB can continue their lobbying efforts—just in a slightly different form.
