Action Alert: Please Contact Your House Member on HB 281  HB 281 by Rep. Mayes Middleton is in the House Calendar Committee, and we expect it to be set for floor debate very soon. This bill would have a negative impact on how administrators and TASA employees could represent you at the Texas Capitol. HB 281 would prohibit public money from being spent on lobbyists or associations that have lobbyists. This would result in the elimination of governmental relations for TASA and other similar organizations.  Some legislators do not think you should have representation at the Capitol. The bill currently has 53 joint and co-authors. See which House members have signed onto the bill. These individuals need to hear your opposition!  Talking points on the impact of HB 281:

Talking points on the impact of HB 281:

Local boards and governmental entities should be left to determine if they want representation at the state level. 
HB 281 would weaken administrators’ influence and prevent your views from being represented at the Capitol.

There are thousands of bills filed every session and hundreds that impact students, public schools, educators, and local communities.
Superintendents and administrators can’t be expected to follow and weigh in on all legislation, participate in hearings, and follow the process while running school districts.
Many anti-public education groups have full-time representatives at the Capitol; this bill would not impact them.
The bill does not apply to charter schools and does not apply to the state, which also uses lobbyists at the federal level.
Associations like TASA and other education groups provide information that helps legislators and the education community.

Please call your House member today and urge them to oppose HB 281!

View the bill.

Find out who represents you and get their contact information.