“Biggest lobbying operation I've seen for a long time. They started early and worked hard.”

That's how William Miller, a longtime Austin lobbyist who represents the City of Houston, characterized the lawyers and consultants tapped by Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. for the most recent regular Texas legislative session.

The ride-hailing companies' army of some 40 lobbyists succeeded in getting passed a law placing transportation network companies under state control and barring cities from enacting their own regulations.