The Senate Committee on State Affairs will hear invited and public testimony on Thursday, February 27, 2025, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Senate chamber. A bill of importance to TASA membership on the committee’s agenda is SB 19 filed by Sen. Mayes Middleton. The bill is also a legislative priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
As filed, SB 19 would:
- Prohibit school districts and other political subdivisions from spending public funds to hire lobbyists to speak on their behalf before members of the Texas Legislature.
- Prohibit school districts or other political subdivisions from using funds to pay nonprofit state associations, like TASA, or other organizations that engage in lobbying activities in Texas.
- Clarify that officers or employees of school districts and other political subdivisions can continue to provide information to legislators or appear before legislative committees, provided these actions do not require lobbyist registration in Texas.
- Allow taxpayers or residents of a political subdivision to seek injunctive relief to prevent prohibited activities and recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs if they prevail in such actions.
Public testimony will be limited to two minutes.
