BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 421
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In March 2002, President Bush signed into law the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which took effect after the 2002 elections. This law requires federal candidates, or their authorized committees, to meet certain conditions when directly referring to opponents in their political advertisements in order to receive the lowest unit charge from broadcast stations. A candidate must provide a written certification to the broadcast station stating that the candidate, or his or her authorized committee, will not refer directly to any opponent without meeting certain criteria.
As proposed, S.B. 421 conforms the political advertising laws of this state with federal law.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 255.001(a), Election Code, as follows:
(a) Requires a person who knowingly causes a political advertisement containing express advocacy to be published, distributed, or broadcasted to include, rather than indicate, certain conduct in the advertisement. Requires political advertising that is authorized by the candidate to make a clear statement of the candidate and his approval of the communication in a specified manner depending on the method of communication.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.