Monitoring the Session

HB 531

convention candidates pay party chairs, not the state

Filed

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. John H. Bucy IIIDHouse 136

Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade

Caption

relating to the filing fee for nomination by convention.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Fee goes to the state chair or county chair. Starts 2027.

This bill changes who collects the filing fee or the substitute petition from candidates who seek a nomination by convention. A statewide or district candidate would pay or file with the party's state chair instead of the secretary of state, and a county or precinct candidate would pay or file with the party's county chair instead of the county judge. It also repeals two subsections of the same section, Subsections (c) and (d), whose text this bill copy does not show, and it takes effect September 1, 2027.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 89R HB 4309 (Did not pass). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R and 89R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 89R and 90R. Checked against 88R and 89R only.

Receipt

The receipt

90R-HB531 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

Rep. John H. Bucy IIIDHouse 136

ITEM

relating to the filing fee for nomination by convention.

WHAT IT DOES

Fee goes to the state chair or county chair. Starts 2027.

This bill changes who collects the filing fee or the substitute petition from candidates who seek a nomination by convention. A statewide or district candidate would pay or file with the party's state chair instead of the secretary of state, and a county or precinct candidate would pay or file with the party's county chair instead of the county judge. It also repeals two subsections of the same section, Subsections (c) and (d), whose text this bill copy does not show, and it takes effect September 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

John H. Bucy III

Donors

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56KAdam Loewy$20,000Texas Sands PAC$17K

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 23, 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.

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56,000.00

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$56,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$31,000.00
Total
$56,000.00
consulting $31,000.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.

Adam Loewy$20,000.00
Texas Sands PAC$17,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$17,000.00

Cash
$17,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$17,000.00

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 · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.

Money

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

×

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$56,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$31,000.00
Total
$56,000.00
consulting $31,000.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$17,000.00

Cash
$17,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$17,000.00

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 · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.

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 a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 89R and now. Checked against 88R and 89R only.

89R HB 4309

by Rep. Bucy, same lead author · Did not pass · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 13, 2025: Failed to pass to engrossment

Relating to the filing fee for nomination by convention.

Caption, 89R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026

11/09/2026 H Filed

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:34 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

Elections--Candidates

Elections--General

Elections--Political Parties

Text

The text as introduced · 163 words

90R694 MPF-F

By: Bucy
H.B. No. 531

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, 2027.