Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4823 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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1	1		By: Capriglione H.B. No. 4823
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4	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	7		AN ACT
6	8		relating to an electronic filing system for certain reports of
7	9		political contributions and expenditures.
8	10		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	11		SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Campaign Finance
10	12		Transparency Act.
11	13		SECTION 2. Sections 254.036(a) and (g), Election Code, are
12	14		amended to read as follows:
13	15		(a) [Each report filed under this chapter with an authority
14	16		other than the commission must be in a format prescribed by the
15	17		commission.] A report filed with the commission that is not
16	18		required to be filed by computer diskette, modem, or other means of
17	19		electronic transfer must be on a form prescribed by the commission
18	20		and written in black ink or typed with black typewriter ribbon or,
19	21		if the report is a computer printout, the printout must conform to
20	22		the same format and paper size as the form prescribed by the
21	23		commission.
22	24		(g) In prescribing the format of a report filed under this
23	25		chapter, including a report filed with an authority other than the
24	26		commission under Section 254.0361 [Subsection (a)], the commission
25	27		shall ensure that the report requires for political expenditures
26	28		made with a credit card that:
27	29		(1) the expenditures be reported in a single itemized
28	30		list; and
29	31		(2) the list include, stated by credit card issuer:
30	32		(A) the name of the credit card issuer;
31	33		(B) the date and amount of each expenditure; and
32	34		(C) the date the credit card issuer was repaid
33	35		for the expenditure.
34	36		SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is
35	37		amended by adding Section 254.0361 to read as follows:
36	38		Sec. 254.0361. ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM FOR REPORTS FILED
37	39		WITH AN AUTHORITY OTHER THAN THE COMMISSION. (a) In this section,
38	40		"electronic filing system" means the electronic filing system the
39	41		commission implements under this section for reports filed under
40	42		this chapter with an authority other than the commission.
41	43		(b) The commission shall implement an electronic filing
42	44		system for reports filed under this chapter with an authority other
43	45		than the commission.
44	46		(c) Each report filed under this chapter with an authority
45	47		other than the commission must be filed using the electronic filing
46	48		system by computer diskette, modem, or other means of electronic
47	49		transfer, as the commission determines by rule.
48	50		(d) The electronic filing system must use computer software
49	51		that is:
50	52		(1) comparable to the computer software provided or
51	53		approved by the commission under Section 571.0671, Government Code;
52	54		and
53	55		(2) certified under the state risk and authorization
54	56		management program established under Section 2054.0593, Government
55	57		Code, if the computer software is a cloud-based system.
56	58		(e) The commission may collaborate with the Department of
57	59		Information Resources in implementing the electronic filing
58	60		system, including for the purpose of negotiating a bulk purchase
59	61		agreement in relation to the electronic filing system to streamline
60	62		procurement, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with applicable
61	63		state standards.
62	64		(f) The commission shall implement and maintain the
63	65		electronic filing system using:
64	66		(1) money appropriated to the commission for that
65	67		purpose; or
66	68		(2) gifts, grants, or donations the commission
67	69		receives for that purpose.
68	70		(g) The commission shall adopt rules to implement and
69	71		maintain the electronic filing system, including rules:
70	72		(1) that require each authority other than the
71	73		commission with whom reports are filed under this chapter to
72	74		provide to the commission information contained in reports filed
73	75		using the electronic filing system in a format the commission
74	76		determines; and
75	77		(2) on aggregating data contained in the information
76	78		the commission receives under Subdivision (1); and
77	79		(3) on publishing the aggregated data described by
78	80		Subdivision (2) on the commission's internet website.
79	81		(h) The commission by rule shall establish an
80	82		implementation timeline by which reports filed with an authority
81	83		other than the commission must be filed using the electronic filing
82	84		system in accordance with this section. The timeline must require
83	85		each report to be filed using the electronic filing system not later
84	86		than September 1, 2027. This subsection expires September 1, 2028.
85	87		SECTION 4. Section 254.037(b), Election Code, is amended to
86	88		read as follows:
87	89		(b) The deadline for filing a report electronically with the
88	90		commission or an authority other than the commission as required by
89	91		this chapter is midnight on the last day for filing the report.
90	92		SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is
91	93		amended by adding Section 254.038 to read as follows:
92	94		Sec. 254.038 SEARCHABLE DATABASE. (a) The commission
93	95		shall establish a public, web-based platform to consolidate and
94	96		present campaign finance data from all filing authorities across
95	97		the state in one central location on the commission's website.
96	98		(b) The platform established under Section 254.038(a)
97	99		shall:
98	100		(1) aggregate and centralize campaign finance
99	101		information from various sources statewide, including local and
100	102		state-wide level races; and
101	103		(2) provide an intuitive, user-friendly interface for
102	104		accessing and analyzing the consolidated data; and
103	105		(3) enable comprehensive searches across all races and
104	106		jurisdictions, allowing users to view contributions and
105	107		expenditures for specific candidates, committees, or contributors;
106	108		and
107	109		(4) provide a variety of data visualization tools to
108	110		enhance transparency and facilitate public understanding of
109	111		campaign finance trends; and
110	112		(5) allow users to rank and sort data based on various
111	113		metrics, such as contribution amounts and geographic locations.
112	114		SECTION 6. Section 254.036(f), Election Code, is repealed.
113	115		SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter
114	116		254, Election Code, apply only to a report that is required to be
115	117		filed with an authority other than the Texas Ethics Commission on or
116	118		after September 1, 2027. A report that is required to be filed
117	119		before that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before
118	120		the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
119	121		effect for that purpose.
120	122		SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.