HB 1495
April 1, 2026
To: IMCAT Members
RE: HB 1495, 86th Legislative Requirements for Information in Proposed School District Budgets
HB 1495 which passed during the 2019 legislative session, amended Section 140.0045 of the Local Government Code to require a line-item expenditure be included in a school district’s proposed budget for “directly or indirectly influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of legislation or administrative action…in a manner allowing for as clear a comparison as practicable between expenditures for the same purpose in the preceding year.”
To assist districts in complying with the requirement, IMCAT is providing the estimated percentage of membership dues spent for the purpose outlined in HB 1495. Currently, zero percent of IMCAT membership dues fund advocacy efforts. IMCAT uses other income sources for legislative activity.
The reporting requirements of HB 1495 do not apply if an IMCAT member is paying their dues personally, and not from districts budgets.
In cases where the district pays for IMCAT membership dues, the district’s proposed budget would reflect zero percent of the total amount of IMCAT membership dues in the line-item expenditure.
Please note, expenditures made to IMCAT for conferences, professional development and other non-advocacy related expenses are not subject to the requirements of HB 1495. Members are encouraged to share this letter with the district Finance Department prior to budget approval.
Sincerely,
Wayne Schaper
President, IMCAT
