85R3611 ATP-D     By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2044       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the use of tax proceeds for lobbying activities or   lobbyists.          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.  LOBBYING ACTIVITIES.  (a)  This section   applies to a governmental entity, including a political   subdivision, wholly or partly funded by tax proceeds.          (b)  A governmental entity may not spend tax proceeds 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 governmental entity   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, or with regard to the   entity's budgetary needs or the effect of pending legislation on   the entity; or                (2)  an elected officer of a governmental entity 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 governmental entity.          (c)  A governmental entity may not employ a person required   to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 to engage in activities   on behalf of the governmental entity for which registration is   required under that chapter.          (d)  If a governmental entity engages in an activity   prohibited by Subsection (b) or (c), a taxpayer of the entity or the   taxing authority that provides tax proceeds to the entity is   entitled to appropriate injunctive relief to prevent any further   activity prohibited by Subsection (b) or (c).          (e)  A taxpayer who prevails in an action under Subsection   (d) is entitled to recover from the governmental entity the   taxpayer'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 an expenditure or payment of tax proceeds   by a governmental entity that is made on or after September 1, 2017.     An expenditure or payment of tax proceeds by a governmental entity   that is made before September 1, 2017, is governed by the law in   effect on the date the expenditure or payment is made, and the   former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.