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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the reporting of political contributions, including |
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in-kind contributions, and expenditures made using a credit card. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 254.044 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 254.044. REPORTING OF POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND |
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EXPENDITURES MADE USING CREDIT CARD. (a) A candidate or |
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officeholder who accepts a political contribution made using a |
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credit card shall: |
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(1) for a political contribution for which a |
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processing fee is deducted by the credit card issuer from the |
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political contribution amount: |
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(A) report as a political contribution the full |
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amount, including the deducted amount; and |
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(B) report as a political expenditure the |
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deducted amount; and |
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(2) for a political contribution for which a |
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processing fee is paid by the person making the political |
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contribution in excess of the political contribution amount: |
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(A) report as a political contribution the full |
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amount, not including the amount paid in excess of the political |
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contribution amount; and |
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(B) report as an in-kind contribution the amount |
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paid in excess of the political contribution amount. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and |
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for purposes of reporting in-kind contributions under Subsection |
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(a)(2)(B), a candidate or officeholder may aggregate those in-kind |
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contributions for the reporting period during which the in-kind |
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contributions are accepted. |
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SECTION 2. Section 254.044, Election Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to a report of political contributions and |
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expenditures under Chapter 254, Election Code, that is required to |
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be filed on or after January 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |