H.B. No. 3903
AN ACT
relating to certain political contributions by judicial candidates
and officeholders and certain political committees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 253.1611, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as
follows:
(e) This section does not apply to a political contribution
made to the principal political committee of the state executive
committee or a county executive committee of a political party that
provides [:
[(1) is made in return for] goods or services,
including political advertising or a campaign communication, to or
for the benefit of judicial candidates [the value of which
substantially equals or exceeds the amount of the contribution; or
[(2) is in an amount that is not more than the
candidate's or officeholder's pro rata share of the committee's
normal overhead and administrative or operating costs].
(e-1) This subsection applies only to a political party
required to nominate candidates by primary election. This section
does not apply to a political contribution made, for the purpose of
sponsoring or attending an event, to a political committee
affiliated with:
(1) an organization that has been designated as an
auxiliary, coalition, or county chair association of a political
party as provided by political party rule or state executive
committee bylaw; or
(2) a local chapter of an organization described by
Subdivision (1).
SECTION 2. Section 253.1611(f), Election Code, is repealed.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3903 was passed by the House on May 4,
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 107, Nays 40, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 3903 on May 20, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 122, Nays 11,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3903 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 19, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor