The Senate State Affairs Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 13, to hear the following bills:
- SB 175 (Middleton, et al.) would prohibit political subdivisions from expending public funds to pay a lobbyist. Additionally, political subdivisions would be prohibited from using public funds to pay a nonprofit state organization that primarily represents political subdivisions and that hires or contracts with lobbyists.The bill, as introduced, would permit taxpayers and residents of a political subdivision that violates the prohibition to seek injunctive relief and would allow the resident or taxpayer (if they prevail) to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in seeking injunctive relief. The bill also prohibits county judges and county commissioners from using public funds to join or serve on the governing body of the association of counties. SB 175 would also repeal the provision in the Local Government Code that permits a county’s commissioners court from using public funds to pay membership fees and dues to the association of counties.
- SB 825 (Bettencourt) relates to the deadline for submitting certain recount petitions.
- SB 221 (Bettencourt) relates to requirements for certain petitions requesting an election and ballot propositions and to related procedures and provisions.
- SB 747 (Hughes) relates to the withdrawal of a candidate in a runoff primary election.
- SB 921 (Hughes) relates to the determination of a majority vote in certain elections.
- SB 15 (Middleton, et al.) relates to requiring a student of a public institution of higher education who competes in intercollegiate athletic competitions to do so based on the student’s biological sex.
- SB 1052 (Springer) relates to the compensation of an election judge or clerk.
Public testimony will be limited to two minutes.
