The Institute for Justice (IJ) is at the forefront of the national battle to protect property rights from eminent domain abuse. In collaboration with the Foundation, Clark Neily, one of IJ’s senior attorneys, examines the current situation in Texas and proposes changes to Texas law that would provide protections for private ownership of land once thought to be enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
Local Government
When Government Lobbies Itself: Why Texas Should Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
Texas local governments use taxpayer dollars to hire lobbyists to influence state legislation—creating conflicts of interest, distorting democratic accountability, and undermining the interests of Texas taxpayers. Key points: Taxpayer-funded lobbying expenditures more than doubled from the 85th to the 89th Legislature, now reaching as high as $111.5 million. Taxpayer-funded lobbyists consistently opposed legislation involving property...
April 6, 2026