Capriglione’s Local Campaign E-Filing Waits Until 2027

The text as introduced · 951 words

By: Capriglione
H.B. No. 4823

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an electronic filing system for certain reports of

political contributions and expenditures.

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

SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Campaign Finance

Transparency Act.

SECTION 2. Sections 254.036(a) and (g), Election Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(a) [ Each report filed under this chapter with an authority

other than the commission must be in a format prescribed by the

commission. ] A report filed with the commission that is not

required to be filed by computer diskette, modem, or other means of

electronic transfer must be on a form prescribed by the commission

and written in black ink or typed with black typewriter ribbon or,

if the report is a computer printout, the printout must conform to

the same format and paper size as the form prescribed by the

commission.

(g) In prescribing the format of a report filed under this

chapter, including a report filed with an authority other than the

commission under Section 254.0361 [ Subsection (a) ], the commission

shall ensure that the report requires for political expenditures

made with a credit card that:

(1) the expenditures be reported in a single itemized

list; and

(2) the list include, stated by credit card issuer:

(A) the name of the credit card issuer;

(B) the date and amount of each expenditure; and

(C) the date the credit card issuer was repaid

for the expenditure.

SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is

amended by adding Section 254.0361 to read as follows:

Sec. 254.0361. ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM FOR REPORTS FILED

WITH AN AUTHORITY OTHER THAN THE COMMISSION. (a) In this section,

"electronic filing system" means the electronic filing system the

commission implements under this section for reports filed under

this chapter with an authority other than the commission.

(b) The commission shall implement an electronic filing

system for reports filed under this chapter with an authority other

than the commission.

(c) Each report filed under this chapter with an authority

other than the commission must be filed using the electronic filing

system by computer diskette, modem, or other means of electronic

transfer, as the commission determines by rule.

(d) The electronic filing system must use computer software

that is:

(1) comparable to the computer software provided or

approved by the commission under Section 571.0671, Government Code;

and

(2) certified under the state risk and authorization

management program established under Section 2054.0593, Government

Code, if the computer software is a cloud-based system.

(e) The commission may collaborate with the Department of

Information Resources in implementing the electronic filing

system, including for the purpose of negotiating a bulk purchase

agreement in relation to the electronic filing system to streamline

procurement, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with applicable

state standards.

(f) The commission shall implement and maintain the

electronic filing system using:

(1) money appropriated to the commission for that

purpose; or

(2) gifts, grants, or donations the commission

receives for that purpose.

(g) The commission shall adopt rules to implement and

maintain the electronic filing system, including rules:

(1) that require each authority other than the

commission with whom reports are filed under this chapter to

provide to the commission information contained in reports filed

using the electronic filing system in a format the commission

determines; and

(2) on aggregating data contained in the information

the commission receives under Subdivision (1); and

(3) on publishing the aggregated data described by

Subdivision (2) on the commission's internet website.

(h) The commission by rule shall establish an

implementation timeline by which reports filed with an authority

other than the commission must be filed using the electronic filing

system in accordance with this section. The timeline must require

each report to be filed using the electronic filing system not later

than September 1, 2027. This subsection expires September 1, 2028.

SECTION 4. Section 254.037(b), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) The deadline for filing a report electronically with the

commission or an authority other than the commission as required by

this chapter is midnight on the last day for filing the report.

SECTION 5 . Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is

amended by adding Section 254.038 to read as follows:

Sec. 254.038 SEARCHABLE DATABASE. (a) The commission

shall establish a public, web-based platform to consolidate and

present campaign finance data from all filing authorities across

the state in one central location on the commission's website.

(b) The platform established under Section 254.038(a)

shall:

(1) aggregate and centralize campaign finance

information from various sources statewide, including local and

state-wide level races; and

(2) provide an intuitive, user-friendly interface for

accessing and analyzing the consolidated data; and

(3) enable comprehensive searches across all races and

jurisdictions, allowing users to view contributions and

expenditures for specific candidates, committees, or contributors;

and

(4) provide a variety of data visualization tools to

enhance transparency and facilitate public understanding of

campaign finance trends; and

(5) allow users to rank and sort data based on various

metrics, such as contribution amounts and geographic locations.

SECTION 6. Section 254.036(f), Election Code, is repealed.

SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter

254, Election Code, apply only to a report that is required to be

filed with an authority other than the Texas Ethics Commission on or

after September 1, 2027. A report that is required to be filed

before that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before

the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in

effect for that purpose.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.