89R10095 CJD-F     By: Hall S.B. No. 1695       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the use by a political subdivision of money for lobbying   and certain other activities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 89.002, Local Government Code, is   transferred to Chapter 556, Government Code, redesignated as   Section 556.0056, Government Code, and amended to read as follows:          Sec. 556.0056 [89.002].  LOBBYING ACTIVITIES; ASSOCIATIONS   AND ORGANIZATIONS [STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES].  (a)  This   section applies to political subdivision, including a regional   mobility authority, toll road authority, and transit authority.          (b)  The governing body of a political subdivision may not   spend public money or provide compensation of any kind to directly   or indirectly influence or attempt to influence the outcome of   legislation pending before the legislature.  This subsection does   not prevent:                (1)  an officer or employee of a political subdivision   from providing information for a member of the legislature or   appearing before a legislative committee at the request of the   member of the legislature or the committee;                (2)  an elected officer of a political subdivision from   advocating for or against or otherwise influencing or attempting to   influence the outcome of legislation pending before the legislature   while acting as an officer of the political subdivision; or                (3)  an employee of a political subdivision 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.          (c)  The governing body of a political subdivision   [commissioners court] may not spend [, in the name of the county,]    money or provide compensation of any kind to an association or   organization [from the county's general fund] for membership fees   and dues or for any other purpose unless [of a nonprofit state   association of counties if]:                (1)  a majority of the governing body [court] votes to   approve membership in the association or organization;                (2)  the association or organization exists for the   betterment of local [county] government and the benefit of all   local [county] officials;                (3)  the association or organization is not affiliated   with a labor organization;                (4)  neither the association or organization nor an   employee of the association or organization directly or indirectly   influences or attempts to influence the outcome of any legislation   pending before the legislature[, except that this subdivision does   not prevent a person from providing information for a member of the   legislature or appearing before a legislative committee at the   request of the committee or the member of the legislature]; and                (5)  [neither] the association or organization does not   [nor an employee of the association] directly or indirectly   contribute [contributes] any money, services, or other valuable   thing to a political campaign or endorse [endorses] a candidate or   group of candidates for public office.          (d)  Subsection (c)(4) does not prevent a person from   providing information for a member of the legislature or appearing   before a legislative committee at the request of the member of the   legislature or the committee.          (e)  If a political subdivision engages in an activity   prohibited by Subsection (b) or if [(b)  If] any association or   organization supported wholly or partly by payments of money [tax   receipts] from political subdivisions engages in an activity   described by Subsection (c)(4) [(a)(4)] or (5), a taxpayer or   resident of the [a] political subdivision that engages in the   prohibited activity or that pays fees or dues to the association or   organization is entitled to appropriate injunctive relief to   prevent any further activity prohibited by Subsection (b) or    described by Subsection (c)(4) [(a)(4)] or (5) or any further   payments of fees or dues.          (f)  A taxpayer or resident who prevails in an action under   Subsection (e) is entitled to recover from the political   subdivision 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   transferred, redesignated, and amended by this Act, applies only to   an expenditure or payment of money or provision of some other   compensation by a political subdivision that is made on or after   September 1, 2025.  An expenditure or payment of money or provision   of some other compensation by a political subdivision that is made   before September 1, 2025, is governed by the law in effect on the   date the expenditure, payment, or provision is made, and the former   law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.