Texas House Bill HB220

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

• Filed: 11/10/14

Caption

Relating to restrictions on the name of a general-purpose political committee; providing a criminal penalty.

Impact

The enactment of HB 220 will amend the Election Code, particularly Section 252.003. It will impose a procedure where the Texas Ethics Commission will evaluate the names of general-purpose political committees to ensure compliance with the new provisions. If a committee fails to adhere to these naming standards, the commission will notify the campaign treasurer of the committee, which must act to rectify the name within a specified timeframe. Failure to comply could result in the termination of the committee's campaign treasurer appointment.

Summary

House Bill 220 introduces restrictions regarding the names of general-purpose political committees in Texas. The bill stipulates that a committee's name must not include the name of a political party without explicit permission from that party. This change seeks to reduce potential confusion and misuse of political identities in campaigning, thereby enhancing transparency in political activities.

Contention

Notable points of contention regarding HB 220 may arise from concerns over the definition of a 'political party' and what constitutes appropriate use of names. Critics may argue that the bill could potentially limit the freedom of committees to choose their identities and could lead to administrative challenges in enforcing the rules. Additionally, opponents might question the implications of criminal penalties for violations and the potential overreach of the Texas Ethics Commission in determining the appropriateness of committee names.