BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 974

By: Campbell

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Reports indicate that some political subdivisions are considering adopting policies that would use taxpayer dollars to fund local campaigns through vouchers mailed to registered voters that could be assigned by those voters to political candidates. S.B. 974 seeks to address this issue by prohibiting a political subdivision from adopting or implementing a policy or program that permits the use of public money or revenue to finance political campaigns.

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

S.B. 974 amends the Local Government Code to prohibit a political subdivision of the state from adopting or implementing a policy or program that permits the use of public money or revenue of any kind to finance a political campaign. This prohibition applies to a policy or program that permits:

· the direct use of public money or revenue by the political subdivision to finance a political campaign; or

· the indirect use of public money or revenue by the political subdivision through a voucher or similar program that provides a person with the public money or revenue to finance a political campaign.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.