Monitoring the Session

SB 2197

convention candidates file with the party, not the state

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Nathan JohnsonDSenate 16

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 the filing fee for nomination by convention.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Fees and petitions go to the party chairs instead.

The bill changes who receives the filing fee or the petition in lieu of a fee from a candidate who seeks nomination by convention. Statewide and district candidates would file with the party's state chair instead of the secretary of state, and county and precinct candidates would file with the county chair instead of the county judge. It also repeals two subsections of the same section, so convention-nomination filings move from government officials to party officials starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 11, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2197 · 2025-03-11

SOLD BY

Sen. Nathan JohnsonDSenate 16

ITEM

relating to the filing fee for nomination by convention.

WHAT IT DOES

Fees and petitions go to the party chairs instead.

The bill changes who receives the filing fee or the petition in lieu of a fee from a candidate who seeks nomination by convention. Statewide and district candidates would file with the party's state chair instead of the secretary of state, and county and precinct candidates would file with the county chair instead of the county judge. It also repeals two subsections of the same section, so convention-nomination filings move from government officials to party officials starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Nathan Johnson

Donors

Daniel Cocanougher$250,000Texas Sands PAC$130KMarguerite Hoffman$125,000

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 · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.

Daniel Cocanougher$250,000.00
Texas Sands PAC$129,500.00

Texas Sands PAC

$129,500.00

Cash
$129,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$129,500.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 27, 2024 to May 12, 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: 100990378, 101033698, 101040111, 101052272.

Marguerite Hoffman$125,000.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$129,500.00

Cash
$129,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$129,500.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 27, 2024 to May 12, 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: 100990378, 101033698, 101040111, 101052272.

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 Senate · Filed Mar 11, 2025

03/24/2025 S Referred to State Affairs

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

HB 4309 by Bucy (identical)

Subjects

Elections--Candidates

Elections--General

Elections--Political Parties

Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--Local

Text

The text as introduced · 163 words

89R15847 AB-F

By: Johnson
S.B. No. 2197

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the filing fee for nomination by convention.

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

SECTION 1. Section 181.0311(a), Election Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) In addition to any other requirements, to be considered

for nomination by convention, a candidate must:

(1) pay a filing fee to the [ secretary of ] state chair

for a statewide or district office or the county chair [ judge ] for a

county or precinct office; or

(2) submit to the [ secretary of ] state chair for a

statewide or district office or the county chair [ judge ] for a

county or precinct office a petition in lieu of a filing fee that

satisfies the requirements prescribed by Subsection (e) and Section

141.062.

SECTION 2. Sections 181.0311(c) and (d), Election Code, are

repealed.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.