HB 4596
bill extending the campaign ban to individual school trustees
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to certain electioneering activities by members of a board of trustees of an independent school district.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
No district resources for campaigning, including on bond propositions.
The bill extends the existing ban on a school board using district money or resources to campaign so that it also covers each individual trustee. It also spells out that the ban includes campaigning for or against a school bond proposition. Trustees of independent school districts can no longer use district funds or resources to push a bond election, a candidate, a measure or a party, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 122 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 122 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 12, 2025 and referred to the House Public Education committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4596 · 2025-03-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to certain electioneering activities by members of a board of trustees of an independent school district.
WHAT IT DOES
No district resources for campaigning, including on bond propositions.
The bill extends the existing ban on a school board using district money or resources to campaign so that it also covers each individual trustee. It also spells out that the ban includes campaigning for or against a school bond proposition. Trustees of independent school districts can no longer use district funds or resources to push a bond election, a candidate, a measure or a party, starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Public Education
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“including for or against a bond proposition under Chapter 45”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill bars school trustees from using district money or resources to campaign for or against school bond elections.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 29, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$684,547.30
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$684,547.30
- Cash
- $45,000.00
- Paid by others
- $639,547.30
- Total
- $684,547.30
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100977031, 101011438, 101032753, 101060419, 101068130, 101070151.
Texas Conservative Majority PAC$443,776.00
Texas Conservative Majority PAC
$443,776.00
- Cash
- $125,000.00
- Paid by others
- $318,776.00
- Total
- $443,776.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Aug 12, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101068130, 101070151.
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$124,437.26
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee
$124,437.26
- Cash
- $30,000.00
- Paid by others
- $94,437.26
- Total
- $124,437.26
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 29, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100977031, 101032753, 101068130, 101070151.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$684,547.30
- Cash
- $45,000.00
- Paid by others
- $639,547.30
- Total
- $684,547.30
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100977031, 101011438, 101032753, 101060419, 101068130, 101070151.
Texas Conservative Majority PAC
$443,776.00
- Cash
- $125,000.00
- Paid by others
- $318,776.00
- Total
- $443,776.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Aug 12, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101068130, 101070151.
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee
$124,437.26
- Cash
- $30,000.00
- Paid by others
- $94,437.26
- Total
- $124,437.26
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 29, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100977031, 101032753, 101068130, 101070151.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 12, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Public Education · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Education--School Districts
Elections--General
Elections--School District
ELECTIONEERING
Text
The text as introduced · 122 words
By: Bumgarner H.B. No. 4596 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to certain electioneering activities by members of a board of trustees of an independent school district. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 11.169, Education Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 11.169. ELECTIONEERING PROHIBITED. Notwithstanding any other law, the board of trustees or a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district may not use state or local funds or other resources of the district to electioneer for or against any candidate, measure, or political party , including for or against a bond proposition under Chapter 45 . SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.