LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 24, 2021 TO: Honorable Chris Paddie, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB749 by Middleton (Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.), As Introduced No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Government Code and Local Government Code to restrict the use of public funds by political subdivisions for lobbying activities and to repeal the authority of a county commissioners court to spend money from the county's general fund for membership fees and dues of a nonprofit state association of counties. Local Government ImpactAccording to the Texas Association of Counties (TAC), the bill would have a significant fiscal impact on counties. Each county would have to hire additional staff to replace legislative research and analysis services provided by TAC. Tom Green County estimates they would need to hire an additional four people and notes this does not include the coordinated fiscal note and information responses that TAC provides to the Legislative Budget Board and directly to legislators.TAC also provides numerous other services such as training, conference services, legal services, publications, guides, sample policies, and best practices. The loss of these services might be replaced, but it is likely that the costs would increase. It is not possible to determine an exact fiscal impact to counties although TAC anticipates that it will be significant. Source Agencies: b > td > 356 Texas Ethics Commission LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, SMAT, CMA, ANE, GP
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 24, 2021
TO: Honorable Chris Paddie, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB749 by Middleton (Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Chris Paddie, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB749 by Middleton (Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.), As Introduced
Honorable Chris Paddie, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
Honorable Chris Paddie, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB749 by Middleton (Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.), As Introduced
HB749 by Middleton (Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code and Local Government Code to restrict the use of public funds by political subdivisions for lobbying activities and to repeal the authority of a county commissioners court to spend money from the county's general fund for membership fees and dues of a nonprofit state association of counties.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties (TAC), the bill would have a significant fiscal impact on counties. Each county would have to hire additional staff to replace legislative research and analysis services provided by TAC. Tom Green County estimates they would need to hire an additional four people and notes this does not include the coordinated fiscal note and information responses that TAC provides to the Legislative Budget Board and directly to legislators.TAC also provides numerous other services such as training, conference services, legal services, publications, guides, sample policies, and best practices. The loss of these services might be replaced, but it is likely that the costs would increase. It is not possible to determine an exact fiscal impact to counties although TAC anticipates that it will be significant.
TAC also provides numerous other services such as training, conference services, legal services, publications, guides, sample policies, and best practices. The loss of these services might be replaced, but it is likely that the costs would increase. It is not possible to determine an exact fiscal impact to counties although TAC anticipates that it will be significant.
Source Agencies: b > td > 356 Texas Ethics Commission
356 Texas Ethics Commission
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, SMAT, CMA, ANE, GP
JMc, SMAT, CMA, ANE, GP