Monitoring the SessionSB 405
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 restrictions on political contributions by out-of-state contributors; providing a civil penalty.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
$5,000 statewide, $2,500 district, $1,000 county.
The bill caps how much a Texas candidate or officeholder can knowingly take from a contributor whose principal address is outside Texas: $5,000 for a statewide race, $2,500 for a district race and $1,000 for a county race. It also bars a political committee from giving to a candidate if more than half of the committee's contributions in the prior reporting period came from out-of-state addresses. Over-limit money must be returned on a short deadline, and the Texas Ethics Commission can impose a civil penalty of up to three times the amount after a formal hearing, starting with contributions made on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 1706 (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 SB 1706 (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 Nov 21, 2024 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-SB405 · 2024-11-21
relating to restrictions on political contributions by out-of-state contributors; providing a civil penalty.
$5,000 statewide, $2,500 district, $1,000 county.
The bill caps how much a Texas candidate or officeholder can knowingly take from a contributor whose principal address is outside Texas: $5,000 for a statewide race, $2,500 for a district race and $1,000 for a county race. It also bars a political committee from giving to a candidate if more than half of the committee's contributions in the prior reporting period came from out-of-state addresses. Over-limit money must be returned on a short deadline, and the Texas Ethics Commission can impose a civil penalty of up to three times the amount after a formal hearing, starting with contributions made on or after September 1, 2025.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
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 · Jul 6, 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.
$1,140,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 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: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$1,140,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 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: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.
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 Sen. Middleton, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 16, 2023: Referred to State Affairs
Relating to restrictions on political contributions by out-of-state contributors; providing a civil penalty.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas Senate · Filed Nov 21, 2024
02/03/2025 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 3592 by Phelan (identical)
Crimes--Miscellaneous
Elections--Campaign Financing
Elections--Candidates
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
ETHICS COMMISSION, TEXAS
The text as introduced · 413 words
89R3770 MZM-F By: Middleton S.B. No. 405 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to restrictions on political contributions by out-of-state contributors; providing a civil penalty. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 253, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 253.044 to read as follows: Sec. 253.044. POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION LIMITS RELATED TO OUT-OF-STATE CONTRIBUTORS. (a) A candidate or an officeholder may not knowingly accept, for an election in which the candidate's or officeholder's name appears on the ballot, political contributions that: (1) are made by a person with a principal address that is located outside this state; and (2) in the aggregate exceed: (A) $5,000 if the election is for a statewide office; (B) $2,500 if the election is for a district office; or (C) $1,000 if the election is for a county office. (b) A candidate or an officeholder who accepts a political contribution in violation of Subsection (a) shall return the contribution to the contributor not later than the later of: (1) the last day of the reporting period under Chapter 254 during which the contribution was accepted; or (2) the fifth day after the date the contribution was accepted. (c) A political committee may not make a political contribution to a candidate or an officeholder for an election in which the candidate's or officeholder's name appears on the ballot if, during the preceding reporting period under Chapter 254, more than 50 percent of the political contributions accepted by the committee were made by persons with a principal address that is located outside this state. (d) A person who violates this section is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed three times the amount of the political contributions accepted or made in violation of this section. The commission may impose a civil penalty against a person under this subsection only after a formal hearing is held as provided by Subchapter E, Chapter 571, Government Code. (e) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. SECTION 2. Section 253.044, Election Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a political contribution made on or after the effective date of this Act. A contribution made before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the contribution was made and is not aggregated with contributions made on or after that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.