March 20, 2025      10:59 AM

A bipartisan coalition comes together as the Texas Senate stops short of banning all taxpayer funded lobbying

Over the objections of Sen. Middleton, Sen. Nichols attached an amendment to SB 19 exempting full-time employees of local governments from lobbying for their association. Middleton argued the change essentially guts the bill

Sen. Mayes Middleton's legislation aimed at banning all "taxpayer funded lobbying" was weakened on the floor of the Texas Senate during a late-night debate that saw Republicans and Democrats come together to preserve the ability of local communities to have their voices heard at the Capitol in Austin.

Senate Bill 19 passed the chamber, but not before Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, was able to amend it on the floor to exempt full-time local government employees from the ban. “It would narrow it down to contract employees,” Nichols said of who would be banned from lobbying under his amendment.

Sen. Middleton, R-River Oaks, was unhappy with the change, arguing it would create a loophole that’s unacceptable to him.

By Scott Braddock

Copyright March 20, 2025, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved