| 1 | 1 | | 89R14184 MZM-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Schwertner S.B. No. 1881 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the use of political contributions by the secretary of |
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| 10 | 10 | | state to maintain a residence in Travis County. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 253.035(d), Election Code, is amended to |
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| 13 | 13 | | read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (d) In this section, "personal use" means a use that |
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| 15 | 15 | | primarily furthers individual or family purposes not connected with |
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| 16 | 16 | | the performance of duties or activities as a candidate for or holder |
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| 17 | 17 | | of a public office. The term does not include: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) payments made to defray ordinary and necessary |
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| 19 | 19 | | expenses incurred in connection with activities as a candidate or |
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| 20 | 20 | | in connection with the performance of duties or activities as a |
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| 21 | 21 | | public officeholder, including payment of rent, utility, and other |
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| 22 | 22 | | reasonable housing or household expenses incurred in maintaining a |
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| 23 | 23 | | residence in Travis County by the secretary of state or members of |
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| 24 | 24 | | the legislature who do not ordinarily reside in Travis County, but |
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| 25 | 25 | | excluding payments prohibited under Section 253.038; or |
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| 26 | 26 | | (2) payments of federal income taxes due on interest |
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| 27 | 27 | | and other income earned on political contributions. |
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| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2. Section 253.035(d), Election Code, as amended by |
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| 29 | 29 | | this Act, is intended to clarify rather than change existing law. |
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| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 31 | 31 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 32 | 32 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 33 | 33 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 34 | 34 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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