A new bill authored by State Rep. Steve Toth in the Texas House seeks to restrict the use of public funds by certain entities for lobbying activities, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on State Finances category, introduced as HB 94 during the 89(2) legislative session on Friday, Aug. 15, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to creating a grant program administered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill prohibits certain public entities in Texas, including political subdivisions, regional authorities, and public institutions, from using public funds to hire lobbyists or to pay nonprofit organizations that hire lobbyists for influencing legislative actions. However, it allows officers and employees of these entities to share information, appear before legislative committees, and advocate on legislation without needing lobbyist registration. It also permits reimbursement for direct travel expenses related to these activities. If a prohibited activity takes place, taxpayers or residents can seek injunctive relief and recover legal costs. Violating entities face a two-year ban on receiving state funds. The bill’s provisions regarding expenditure restrictions apply only after the bill’s effective date, which is 91 days post legislative session.
Steve Toth, a member of the House Committee on Elections, proposed another four bills during the 89(2) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Environmental Regulation.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Other Bills Introduced by Rep. Steve Toth in Texas House
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(2) | HB 93 | 08/15/2025 | Relating to a limitation on the rate of growth in state and local appropriations with the return of over-collected taxpayer money by reducing taxes |
| 89(2) | HB 92 | 08/15/2025 | Relating to the repeal of or limitations on certain state and local taxes, including school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes, the enactment of state and local value added taxes, and related school finance reform; imposing taxes |
| 89(2) | HB 91 | 08/15/2025 | Relating to reducing school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes through the use of certain surplus state revenue |
| 89(2) | HB 80 | 08/15/2025 | Relating to abortion, including civil liability for distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and duties of Internet service providers; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a private civil right of action |
| 89(1) | HB 136 | 07/21/2025 | Relating to creating a grant program administered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management |
| 89(1) | HB 66 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to abortion, including civil liability for distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and duties of Internet service providers; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a private civil right of action |
| 89(1) | HB 44 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to a limitation on the rate of growth in state and local appropriations with the return of over-collected taxpayer money by reducing taxes |
| 89(1) | HB 41 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the repeal of or limitations on certain state and local taxes, including school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes, the enactment of state and local value added taxes, and related school finance reform; imposing taxes |
| 89(1) | HB 39 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to reducing school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes through the use of certain surplus state revenue |
| 89(R) | HB 5613 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to electioneering near a polling place; creating a criminal offense |
| 89(R) | HB 5541 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to discrimination by a state agency against an applicant for or holder of an occupational license |
| 89(R) | HB 5530 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to a person’s eligibility for an occupational license based on a conviction for an offense under federal law |
| 89(R) | HB 5486 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the provision of written notice to vacate real property |
| 89(R) | HB 5449 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to a limitation on the rate of growth in state and local appropriations with the return of over-collected taxpayer money by reducing taxes |
| 89(R) | HB 5214 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Texas Adoption Is an Option Education and Awareness Program and to required adoption-related curriculum and information |
| 89(R) | HB 4561 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to prohibiting excused absences and school district support for student political protests, advocacy, or attempts to influence governmental policymaking during the school day, and establishing educator standards and disciplinary measures to ensure political neutrality in Texas public schools |
| 89(R) | HB 4541 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the location of polling places during early voting and on election day |
| 89(R) | HB 4468 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to a prohibition on the acceptance of certain compensation or employment by current or former members of the legislature for work involving bond services; creating a criminal offense |
| 89(R) | HB 4356 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to restrictive covenants prohibiting the display of a sign containing a political message |
| 89(R) | HB 4319 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the establishment of service credit in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for certain military service by members of the Texas National Guard |
| 89(R) | HB 4318 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to protecting parents and other individuals from criminal investigations or prosecution for refusing to affirm a child’s homosexual or transgender inclinations or efforts to obtain an abortion |
| 89(R) | HB 4311 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to required reintegration therapy coursework and training for certain mental health professionals |
| 89(R) | HB 4206 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the creation of the office of inspector general for education at the Texas Education Agency to investigate the administration of public education and required reporting on misconduct by employees of certain educational entities; creating a criminal offense; increasing an administrative penalty; authorizing an administrative penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 4146 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the rights of public school educators and assistance provided to public schools by the Texas Education Agency related to public school educators |
| 89(R) | HB 3603 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to the admissibility of evidence of extraneous offenses or acts in the prosecution of certain family violence offenses |
| 89(R) | HB 3537 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to a limit on local government expenditures |
| 89(R) | HB 3491 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to processes to address election irregularities; providing a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 3160 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to Internet safety and technology protection policies in public schools and libraries |
| 89(R) | HB 3084 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to solicitation by pedestrians |
| 89(R) | HB 3023 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to license plates issued for and displayed on certain passenger cars and light trucks |
| 89(R) | HB 2829 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to certain outdoor signs regulated by the Texas Department of Transportation |
| 89(R) | HB 2721 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the installation and maintenance by the Texas Department of Transportation of highway signs for certain cultural attractions |
| 89(R) | HB 2672 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to a proposition to approve the issuance of bonds or other debt by a school district |
| 89(R) | HB 2671 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to the date of an automatic election to approve the tax rate of a school district |
| 89(R) | HB 2670 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to the administration of an election for a member of a board of trustees of an independent school district |
| 89(R) | HB 2454 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, advertisement for sale, rental, or lease, or conveyance of real property, including the removal of certain unauthorized occupants of a dwelling; creating criminal offenses; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 2258 | 01/30/2025 | Imposing private civil liability on anyone who causes or contributes to the social transitioning of a minor |
| 89(R) | HB 2059 | 01/24/2025 | Relating to references to “taxpayer money” in state documents, publications, and notices |
| 89(R) | HB 2008 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to courses in personal financial literacy and economics for high school students in public schools |
| 89(R) | HB 2005 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to a limitation on the salary paid to officers and employees of this state and political subdivisions of this state |
| 89(R) | HB 2004 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to a school district professional employee’s liability for certain criminal conduct against a student |
| 89(R) | HB 1553 | 12/09/2024 | Relating to reducing school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes through the use of certain surplus state revenue |
| 89(R) | HB 999 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the public inspection of election records |
| 89(R) | HB 998 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the authority of an individual, before purchasing real property to be used as the individual’s residence homestead, to request from the chief appraiser of the applicable appraisal district a preliminary determination of whether the property would qualify for a disabled veteran exemption if purchased by the individual and used for that purpose |
| 89(R) | HB 995 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to defenses to prosecution for certain criminal offenses involving material or conduct that may be obscene or is otherwise harmful to children |
| 89(R) | HB 993 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the time for processing a municipal building permit application |
| 89(R) | HB 991 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to abortion, including civil liability for distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and duties of Internet service providers; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a private civil right of action |
| 89(R) | HB 989 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to processes to address election irregularities; providing a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 987 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the time for issuance of a municipal building permit |
| 89(R) | HB 986 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to state savings achieved through a budget savings program administered by the comptroller of public accounts making an appropriation of a portion of those savings |
