Former Texas state Representative Chris Paddie was fined $105,500 by the Texas Ethics Commission for violating a revolving door lobbying law that he helped write while serving in the Legislature.
The Marshall Republican began lobbying less than two years after donating campaign funds to other state lawmakers, according to a Texas Ethics Commission order. Paddie, who decided not to seek reelection in 2021, contributed $54,000 to House representatives and candidates late that year while he was still in office before registering as a lobbyist in May 2022.
“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,” the ethics commission’s order stated regarding the $54,000 in donations.
The 2019 state law forbids former elected officials from registering as lobbyists if they contributed money to officeholders less than two years before their registration. Paddie unregistered a week after he first registered as a lobbyist amid media reports about his lobbying, but reregistered later in the year and contributed $55,500 back into his campaign account with personal funds to cover the amount contributed.
The ethics commission released an opinion in February 2023 clarifying that using personal funds would not cure a past violation, after which Paddie once again unregistered. The commission also found that Paddie accepted more than $900,000 from lobbying clients he had contracts with between April 2022 and January 2024.
During his tenure as chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, Paddie blocked the Texas Independence Referendum Act from receiving a committee hearing despite massive constituent pressure. According to Texas Nationalist Movement President Daniel Miller, Paddie’s office was overwhelmed with phone calls from constituents demanding action on the independence referendum bill.
After announcing he would not seek reelection, Paddie immediately went to work lobbying for Vistra, an energy company. This transition drew sharp criticism from Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who publicly stated that Paddie’s actions were “disingenuous and unprofessional – some say underhanded.”
Patrick went further, declaring that “Vistra leadership and shareholders should know he’s lost his credibility and not welcome in my office.” The Harrison County Republican Party censured Paddie under Rule 44 of the Republican rules before he left office.
The $105,500 fine represents one of the largest penalties assessed by the Texas Ethics Commission for revolving door violations. According to state law, anyone who violates the revolving door provisions could face civil penalties of up to $5,000 or triple the amount at issue.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the revolving door between the Texas Legislature and lobbying firms. The 2019 law was designed to slow the transition of former lawmakers into lobbying roles by creating a two-year cooling-off period for those who donated campaign funds to colleagues.
Paddie’s violation of ethics laws he helped craft underscores the need for stronger accountability measures for Texas elected officials. The fine serves as a warning to other former lawmakers who might attempt to skirt revolving door restrictions designed to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain public trust in government.
The Texas Ethics Commission’s enforcement action demonstrates that even well-connected former legislators are not above the law when it comes to ethics violations. The case may encourage more aggressive enforcement of lobbying restrictions and campaign finance laws in Texas.
