Monitoring the SessionSB 2859
Died in committee
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
relating to a prohibition on the receipt of bond proceeds by persons who make a contribution to certain political committees.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Give to the pro-bond committee, and you can’t be paid from that bond.
The bill bars anyone who gives money to a political committee backing a bond from later getting paid out of that bond's proceeds, including through contracts for goods or services. It touches contractors, vendors, and anyone else who donates to pro-bond campaigns and then does business funded by the bond. Starting September 1, 2025, a company that funds a bond campaign cannot cash in on the projects that bond pays for.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 3021 by Rep. Harrison (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 3021 by Rep. Harrison (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-SB2859 · 2025-03-14
relating to a prohibition on the receipt of bond proceeds by persons who make a contribution to certain political committees.
Give to the pro-bond committee, and you can’t be paid from that bond.
The bill bars anyone who gives money to a political committee backing a bond from later getting paid out of that bond's proceeds, including through contracts for goods or services. It touches contractors, vendors, and anyone else who donates to pro-bond campaigns and then does business funded by the bond. Starting September 1, 2025, a company that funds a bond campaign cannot cash in on the projects that bond pays for.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
THE TEXT
…“a person who makes a contribution to a political committee that supports the issuance of a bond may not receive money, including payment under a contract for goods or services, from any proceeds in connection with the bond”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill cuts off bond money to people who fund the campaigns that push bond elections, aiming at the pay-to-play loop behind new public debt.
THE TEXT
“Notwithstanding any law, a person who makes a contribution to a political committee that supports the issuance of a bond may not receive money”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill attaches a financial consequence to political contributions supporting a bond, which regulates who can give to bond campaigns without losing public business.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors report through Friends of Paul Bettencourt.
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Harrison, different lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 14, 2023: Referred to State Affairs
Relating to a prohibition on the receipt of bond proceeds by persons who make a contribution to certain political committees.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas Senate · Filed Mar 14, 2025
04/07/2025 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
HB 953 by Harrison (very similar)
Elections--Campaign Financing
Ethics
BONDS
The text as introduced · 161 words
89R12886 CJD-D By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2859 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a prohibition on the receipt of bond proceeds by persons who make a contribution to certain political committees. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 253, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 253.008 to read as follows: Sec. 253.008. PROHIBITION ON RECEIPT OF BOND PROCEEDS BY PERSONS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO CERTAIN POLITICAL COMMITTEES. Notwithstanding any law, a person who makes a contribution to a political committee that supports the issuance of a bond may not receive money, including payment under a contract for goods or services, from any proceeds in connection with the bond. SECTION 2. Section 253.008, Election Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a contribution to a political committee that is made on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.