The Senate voted to advance Senate Bill 12 to engrossment after extended debate over whether political subdivisions — counties, cities, school districts and similar taxing entities — may use public money to hire registered lobbyists.

Senator Middleton, the bill’s author, framed the measure as a taxpayer‑protection effort, saying “taxpayer funded lobbying is the USAID on the state level. This is funding the deep state, plain and simple.” He said the bill would prevent political subdivisions from using public funds to contract with persons required to register under Chapter 305 of the Texas Government Code or to pay associations that primarily represent political subdivisions to hire registered lobbyists.

Middleton said the bill preserves the ability of local elected officials and their staff to communicate directly with legislators and to be reimbursed for travel to Austin, and that associations would still be allowed to provide services such as legal advice, training and bill‑tracking if those services do not use public funds to pay registered lobbyists.

Opponents argued the restriction would disadvantage smaller or rural jurisdictions that lack in‑house policy staff and rely on associations or pooled resources to monitor legislation and advocate on technical or funding matters. Senator Kolkhorst and others said trade associations and regional groups provide bill tracking, run analyses and surface problems — services that can be difficult for remote or under‑resourced local governments to replicate.

The floor record captured multiple policy flashpoints: whether charter schools and recipients of state funds are covered (the author said the bill applies to political subdivisions and noted existing prohibitions on using state appropriations for lobbying), whether the bill would increase litigation by creating new private causes of action (the author pointed to an existing taxpayer cause of action passed in earlier sessions), and how existing contracts should be treated (several amendments proposing carve‑outs or transition periods were defeated).

Senator Eckhart offered amendments to carve out advocacy related to disaster response, emergency management and public health; that amendment failed on a recorded vote. Other amendments to exempt association employees or to preserve existing contracts also failed. On the motion to advance the bill to engrossment, the clerk reported 17 ayes, 11 nays, one present-not-voting and one excused.

Floor debate included operational clarifications: the Texas Ethics Commission’s registration thresholds were discussed (the clerk’s report and senators on the floor referenced the current registration threshold at about $1,930 per quarter or 40 hours per quarter), and senators offered concrete examples of association dues and costs. Supporters said the bill will increase direct civic engagement by encouraging local officials or staff to come to Austin and speak for their jurisdictions; opponents warned it could curtail advocacy capacity for small entities and unintentionally shift power to privately funded interests.

The bill now proceeds in the legislative process; its supporters said it will increase transparency and prevent taxpayers from being compelled to fund lobbying they oppose, while critics said it will hamper under‑resourced local governments’ ability to advocate effectively.