Johnson Bill Bans Special Session Money, Skips All House Members

The text as introduced · 558 words

89R715 MPF-D

By: Johnson
H.B. No. 1613

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the making and acceptance of political contributions

during a special legislative session.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 253.034, Election Code,

is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 253.034. RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS DURING AND

FOLLOWING [ REGULAR ] LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SECTION 2. Section 253.034, Election Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsections (b) and (c) to

read as follows:

(a-1) During the period beginning on the date a special

legislative session convenes and continuing through the date of

final adjournment of the special legislative session, a person may

not knowingly make a political contribution to:

(1) a statewide officeholder;

(2) a member of the legislature whose term does not

expire in January of the next odd-numbered year; or

(3) a specific-purpose committee for supporting,

opposing, or assisting a person described by Subdivision (1) or

(2).

(b) A person to which Subsection (a) or (a-1) applies

[ statewide officeholder, a member of the legislature, or a

specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting

a statewide officeholder or member of the legislature ] may not

knowingly accept a political contribution, and shall refuse a

political contribution that is received, during an applicable [ the ]

period prescribed by those subsections [ Subsection (a) ]. A

political contribution that is received and refused during that

period shall be returned to the contributor not later than the 30th

day after the date of receipt. A contribution made by United States

mail or by common or contract carrier is not considered received

during that period if it was properly addressed and placed with

postage or carrier charges prepaid or prearranged in the mail or

delivered to the contract carrier before the beginning of the

period. The date indicated by the post office cancellation mark or

the common or contract carrier documents is considered to be the

date the contribution was placed in the mail or delivered to the

common or contract carrier unless proven otherwise.

(c) This section does not apply to a political contribution

that was made and accepted with the intent that it be used:

(1) in an election held or ordered during a [ the ]

period prescribed by Subsection (a) or (a-1) in which the person

accepting the contribution is a candidate if the contribution was

made after the person appointed a campaign treasurer with the

appropriate authority and before the person was sworn in for that

office;

(2) to defray expenses incurred in connection with an

election contest; or

(3) by a person who holds a state office or a member of

the legislature if the person or member was defeated at the general

election held immediately before the session is convened or by a

specific-purpose political committee that supports or assists only

that person or member.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

a political contribution made on or after the effective date of this

Act. A political contribution made before the effective date of

this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the

contribution was made, and the former law is continued in effect for

that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.