By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 10
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use by a county or municipality of public money for
  lobbying activities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 556, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Section 556.0056 to read as follows:
         Sec. 556.0056.  RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING ACTIVITIES BY
  COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES.  (a)  The governing body of a county or
  municipality may not spend public money or provide compensation in
  any manner to directly or indirectly influence or attempt to
  influence the outcome of any legislation pending before the
  legislature.  This subsection does not prevent:
               (1)  an officer or employee of a county or municipality
  from providing information for a member of the legislature or
  appearing before a legislative committee;
               (2)  an elected officer of a county or municipality
  from advocating for or against or otherwise influencing or
  attempting to influence the outcome of legislation pending before
  the legislature, including testifying before a legislative
  committee;
               (3)  an employee of a county or municipality from
  advocating for or against or otherwise influencing or attempting to
  influence the outcome of legislation pending before the legislature
  if those actions would not require a person to register as a
  lobbyist under Chapter 305;
               (4)  a county or municipality from reimbursing an
  officer or employee of the county or municipality for direct travel
  expenses incurred by the officer or employee for engaging in an
  activity authorized by Subdivision (1), (2), or (3);
               (5)  a county or municipality from paying fees or dues
  or providing compensation in any manner to a nonprofit state
  association or organization that advocates for or against or
  otherwise influences or attempts to influence the outcome of
  legislation pending before the legislature on the collective behalf
  of counties or municipalities in this state, unless the association
  or organization:
                     (A)  pays or otherwise compensates an individual
  required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 for a purpose
  described by this subdivision, not including a full-time employee
  of the association or organization; or
                     (B)  advocates for or against or otherwise
  influences or attempts to influence the outcome of legislation
  pending before the legislature related to property taxation,
  including the implementation, rates, and administration of
  property taxes; or
               (6)  a county or municipality from spending public
  money or providing compensation to an individual required to
  register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 for the purpose of
  influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of legislation
  pending before the legislature related to the military, military
  service members, or military veterans.
         (b)  A county or municipality may not establish a nonprofit
  association or organization that advocates for or against or
  otherwise influences or attempts to influence the outcome of
  legislation pending before the legislature on the behalf of a
  county or municipality if the association or organization takes an
  action described by Subsection (a)(5)(A) or (B).
         (c)  If a county or municipality engages in an activity
  prohibited by Subsection (a) or (b), a taxpayer or resident of the
  county or municipality is entitled to appropriate injunctive relief
  to prevent any further activity prohibited by those subsections.
         (d)  A taxpayer or resident who prevails in an action under
  Subsection (c) is entitled to recover from the county or
  municipality, as applicable, the taxpayer's or resident's
  reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in bringing the
  action.
         SECTION 2.  Section 556.0056, Government Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to:
               (1)  an expenditure or payment of money or provision of
  some other compensation by a county or municipality that is made on
  or after September 1, 2021; and
               (2)  the establishment of a nonprofit association or
  organization that takes an action described by Subsection (a)(5)(A)
  or (B) of that section on or after September 1, 2021.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.