Monitoring the SessionHB 811
Died in committee
THE TEXT
“This section does not require a person to register if the person has established an attorney-client relationship with a political subdivision to provide legal services”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The exemption turns on the attorney-client relationship and the retention agreement, not on whether the paid work is legal work. A retained lawyer paid by a local government to lobby the Legislature could escape the registration requirement.
The holeInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to the applicability of lobbyist registration requirements to a person who provides legal services to a political subdivision.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
The exemption turns on the attorney-client relationship, so a lawyer paid to lobby could skip registering.
The bill exempts certain people from Texas lobbyist registration. It covers anyone who has an attorney-client relationship with a city, county, district or other political subdivision and is paid under an agreement that retains or employs them. Starting September 1, 2025, those lawyers would not have to register as lobbyists, even when they would otherwise meet the registration test.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 163 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 163 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.QUICK READ: 121 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 121 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB811 · 2024-11-12
relating to the applicability of lobbyist registration requirements to a person who provides legal services to a political subdivision.
The exemption turns on the attorney-client relationship, so a lawyer paid to lobby could skip registering.
The bill exempts certain people from Texas lobbyist registration. It covers anyone who has an attorney-client relationship with a city, county, district or other political subdivision and is paid under an agreement that retains or employs them. Starting September 1, 2025, those lawyers would not have to register as lobbyists, even when they would otherwise meet the registration test.
[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
“This section does not require a person to register if the person has established an attorney-client relationship with a political subdivision to provide legal services”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The exemption turns on the attorney-client relationship and the retention agreement, not on whether the paid work is legal work. A retained lawyer paid by a local government to lobby the Legislature could escape the registration requirement.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
$40,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 18, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101009978, 101031338, 101071836.
$10,000.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100987103, 101057871.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$40,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 18, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101009978, 101031338, 101071836.
$10,000.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100987103, 101057871.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Spiller, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Feb 23, 2023: Referred to State Affairs
Relating to the applicability of lobbyist registration requirements to a person who provides legal services to a political subdivision.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/05/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 5 2025 11:46AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
City Government--Finance
County Government--Finance
LOBBYISTS & LOBBYING
The text as introduced · 121 words
89R3274 CJD-D By: Spiller H.B. No. 811 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the applicability of lobbyist registration requirements to a person who provides legal services to a political subdivision. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 305.003, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (b-5) to read as follows: (b-5) This section does not require a person to register if the person has established an attorney-client relationship with a political subdivision to provide legal services and receives or is entitled to receive compensation, reimbursement, or expenses under an agreement under which the person is retained or employed by the political subdivision. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.