BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1957

By: Laubenberg

General Investigating & Ethics

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties believe that the treatment of political contributions by an individual's spouse under the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act is unfair to married couples. H.B. 1957 seeks to remove the specification in that act that a contribution by the spouse of an individual is considered to be a contribution by that individual.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1957 amends the Election Code to remove a specification that a political contribution by the spouse of an individual is considered to be a contribution by the individual for purposes of certain contribution limits under the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.