Proponents of the restrictions concede part of Mr. Daugaard’s argument: They say that publicity is precisely the point of the bans, which cover nonessential travel and do not block the personal activities of state workers.

“Is this more symbolic than actually an economic driving force? Most certainly so,” said Evan Low, a California assemblyman and the sponsor of a measure, approved last year with some Republican support, that provided for his state’s travel restrictions. “But it allows the conversation to continue to occur to say, ‘Wow, these states really don’t value the basic, fundamental rights of all of its citizens?’”

Despite Mr. Low’s forecast, it appears that the travel restrictions are having some effect. Mayor Greg Fischer of Louisville, Ky., said recently that two conventions had cited California’s restrictions when they abandoned their expected plans to visit the city.

Texas has more on the line than most places. Some 10 percent of the nation’s trade shows are held in the state, and its three largest cities — Dallas, Houston and San Antonio — are popular meeting sites. But Mr. Jones fears that California’s ban, and any others that might follow it, will force Texas to surrender some visitors and revenue to cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas or New Orleans.

About two dozen groups have already suggested that they might pass over Dallas, Mr. Jones said, especially if lawmakers, who began a special session on Tuesday, approve a measure restricting restroom access for transgender people. Groups with large numbers of public employees are warning that it will be hard to justify holding meetings here when representatives of the country’s most populous state might be excluded.

“We’re very, very fearful of what the long-term consequences are,” Mr. Jones said.

Some groups are, reluctantly, keeping their plans to meet in Dallas, including the National Communication Association, which considered moving its November convention. The group decided to stay, its president, Stephen J. Hartnett, said, for logistical reasons and because it was in the organization’s “ethical best interest to stay in Dallas and engage with Dallas and be on the ground so we could participate in those debates.”

But he cautioned that the committee that selects convention sites could bypass Texas in the future.

“They’re going to be looking at travel bans like the one California put in place,” said Mr. Hartnett, a professor at the University of Colorado, Denver, who noted that 8 percent of last year’s convention participants came from California.