HB 4708
Ethics commission enforcement would cover only government officers and employees
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Editor's call: No flags. On Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked this charge against the bill's caption and removed it.
Corrected Nov 1, 2026
Corrected Nov 1, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the Texas Ethics Commission's jurisdiction to administer and enforce laws against certain persons.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
The restriction applies to every law the commission administers or enforces.
The bill says the Texas Ethics Commission can only administer or enforce laws against officers or employees of a governmental entity, notwithstanding any other law. Anyone who does not hold a government office or job falls outside the commission's reach, which on the bill's own terms covers private candidates, political committees, donors and lobbyists. Starting September 1, 2025, the commission could no longer act against those private persons under any law it now administers.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 95 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 95 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 State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4708 · 2025-03-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the Texas Ethics Commission's jurisdiction to administer and enforce laws against certain persons.
WHAT IT DOES
The restriction applies to every law the commission administers or enforces.
The bill says the Texas Ethics Commission can only administer or enforce laws against officers or employees of a governmental entity, notwithstanding any other law. Anyone who does not hold a government office or job falls outside the commission's reach, which on the bill's own terms covers private candidates, political committees, donors and lobbyists. Starting September 1, 2025, the commission could no longer act against those private persons under any law it now administers.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
“Notwithstanding any other law, the commission does not have jurisdiction to administer or enforce a law against a person”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill shields every private person, including political spenders and lobbyists, from enforcement by the state's campaign and ethics regulator.
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 28, 2024 to Oct 20, 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.
Justice for Victims PAC$50,000.00
Justice for Victims PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Sep 25, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Sep 25, 2025. 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: 101032028.
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$50,000.00
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 6, 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: 101008625, 101072662.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$42,500.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$42,500.00
- Cash
- $42,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $42,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 100982039, 101008625, 101032028, 101052760, 101072662.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Justice for Victims PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Sep 25, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Sep 25, 2025. 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: 101032028.
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 6, 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: 101008625, 101072662.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$42,500.00
- Cash
- $42,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $42,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 100982039, 101008625, 101032028, 101052760, 101072662.
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 State Affairs: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Ethics
State Employees
ETHICS COMMISSION, TEXAS
Text
The text as introduced · 95 words
89R16577 MZM-F By: Money H.B. No. 4708 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the Texas Ethics Commission's jurisdiction to administer and enforce laws against certain persons. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 571.061, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission does not have jurisdiction to administer or enforce a law against a person other than an officer or employee of a governmental entity. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.