TX SB345

Adds a new eligibility requirement for candidates seeking public elective office in Texas: individuals required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 of the Government Code are ineligible to run for or hold office

Prohibits members of Congress, state legislators, and statewide officeholders from registering as lobbyists; any existing lobbyist registration automatically expires when an individual takes one of these offices

Exempts unpaid positions in smaller political subdivisions: offices in jurisdictions with populations of 150,000 or less (excluding presiding officers) and presiding officer positions in jurisdictions with populations of 50,000 or less, provided no salary or wage is received

Clarifies that officeholders who refuse to accept an offered or budgeted salary are not considered to have received compensation for purposes of the exemptions

Takes effect January 12, 2027, and applies only to candidates or officers whose terms begin on or after that date