HB1313 - Relating to the use by a school district or a school district employee of public funds for lobbying activities.

      By: Hickland H.B. No. 1313       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the use by a school district or a school district   employee of public funds for lobbying activities.          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.     RESTRICTION ON USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY SCHOOL   DISTRICTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES FOR LOBBYING ACTIVITIES.   (a)   In this section, "communicates directly with"   and "member of   the legislative branch"   have the meanings assigned by Section   305.002.           (b)  A school district may not spend public funds:                 (1)     to hire an individual required to register as a   lobbyist under Chapter 305 for the purpose of lobbying a member of   the legislative branch; or                 (2)     to pay a nonprofit state association or   organization that:                       (A)     primarily represents political subdivisions;   and                       (B)     hires or contracts with an individual   required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305.           (c)     A school district employee may not use public funds or   other district resources to communicate directly with a member of   the legislative branch or an employee of a member of the legislative   branch to influence legislation.           (d)     If a school district or a school district employee   engages in an activity prohibited by Subsection (b) or (c), a   taxpayer or resident of the school district is entitled to   appropriate injunctive relief to prevent further activity   prohibited by those subsections and further use or expenditure of   public funds related to those activities.           (e)     A taxpayer or resident who prevails in an action under   Subsection (d) is entitled to recover from the school district the   taxpayer's or resident'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 the use or expenditure of public funds by   a school district or a school district employee that is made on or   after the effective date of this Act, including the use or   expenditure of public funds that is made under a contract entered   into on or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.