UPDATE: Former state Representative Chris Paddie has been fined $105,500 for violating Texas’ revolving door lobbying law, a significant ruling from the Texas Ethics Commission that raises serious questions about legislative integrity. This urgent development comes just a week after the fine was issued, underscoring the commission’s commitment to enforcing ethical standards among former officials.
The ruling stems from a law enacted in 2019 that prohibits ex-legislators from registering as lobbyists if they contributed to officeholders less than two years before their registration. Paddie, who served as a Republican representative from Marshall, made contributions totaling $54,000 to House representatives and candidates while still in office in late 2021. He then registered as a lobbyist in May 2022, a move the commission cited as a clear violation of the law.
“This suggests intent to cultivate or maintain influence with the Legislature in advance of his retirement, which is what the statute was intended to prohibit,” stated the ethics commission’s order regarding Paddie’s donations. Just one week after his initial registration, reports emerged about his lobbying activities, prompting Paddie to unregistered. However, he later re-registered and controversially contributed $55,500 back into his campaign account using personal funds, a strategy deemed a loophole by the ethics commission.
In a notable clarification issued in February 2023, the ethics commission emphasized that using personal funds does not rectify past violations. Consequently, Paddie unregistered again, but the damage had been done. The commission also highlighted that he accepted over $900,000 from lobbying clients with whom he had contracts between April 2022 and January 2024.
The hefty fine was determined with specific considerations: the willful nature of Paddie’s violations, his lack of good faith in responding to the complaint, and the necessity to deter future infractions. Payment for this fine is due within 30 days following its issuance.
Paddie’s role in crafting the legislation he violated—coauthoring House Bill 2677 in 2019—adds a layer of complexity to this case, raising critical questions about accountability among lawmakers. As this situation develops, it remains to be seen how the ruling will impact Paddie’s future and the broader conversation around lobbying practices in Texas.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds. The implications of this ruling are significant, and it could set a precedent for future cases involving former legislators transitioning to lobbying roles.
