By: Capriglione H.B. No. 4823

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an electronic filing system for certain reports of political contributions and expenditures.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Campaign Finance Transparency Act.

SECTION 2. Sections 254.036(a) and (g), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) [Each report filed under this chapter with an authority other than the commission must be in a format prescribed by the commission.] A report filed with the commission that is not required to be filed by computer diskette, modem, or other means of electronic transfer must be on a form prescribed by the commission and written in black ink or typed with black typewriter ribbon or, if the report is a computer printout, the printout must conform to the same format and paper size as the form prescribed by the commission.

(g) In prescribing the format of a report filed under this chapter, including a report filed with an authority other than the commission under Section 254.0361 [Subsection (a)], the commission shall ensure that the report requires for political expenditures made with a credit card that:

(1) the expenditures be reported in a single itemized list; and

(2) the list include, stated by credit card issuer:

(A) the name of the credit card issuer;

(B) the date and amount of each expenditure; and

(C) the date the credit card issuer was repaid for the expenditure.

SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 254.0361 to read as follows:

Sec. 254.0361. ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM FOR REPORTS FILED WITH AN AUTHORITY OTHER THAN THE COMMISSION. (a) In this section, "electronic filing system" means the electronic filing system the commission implements under this section for reports filed under this chapter with an authority other than the commission.

(b) The commission shall implement an electronic filing system for reports filed under this chapter with an authority other than the commission.

(c) Each report filed under this chapter with an authority other than the commission must be filed using the electronic filing system by computer diskette, modem, or other means of electronic transfer, as the commission determines by rule.

(d) The electronic filing system must use computer software that is:

(1) comparable to the computer software provided or approved by the commission under Section 571.0671, Government Code; and

(2) certified under the state risk and authorization management program established under Section 2054.0593, Government Code, if the computer software is a cloud-based system.

(e) The commission may collaborate with the Department of Information Resources in implementing the electronic filing system, including for the purpose of negotiating a bulk purchase agreement in relation to the electronic filing system to streamline procurement, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with applicable state standards.

(f) The commission shall implement and maintain the electronic filing system using:

(1) money appropriated to the commission for that purpose; or

(2) gifts, grants, or donations the commission receives for that purpose.

(g) The commission shall adopt rules to implement and maintain the electronic filing system, including rules:

(1) that require each authority other than the commission with whom reports are filed under this chapter to provide to the commission information contained in reports filed using the electronic filing system in a format the commission determines; and

(2) on aggregating data contained in the information the commission receives under Subdivision (1); and

(3) on publishing the aggregated data described by Subdivision (2) on the commission's internet website.

(h) The commission by rule shall establish an implementation timeline by which reports filed with an authority other than the commission must be filed using the electronic filing system in accordance with this section. The timeline must require each report to be filed using the electronic filing system not later than September 1, 2027. This subsection expires September 1, 2028.

SECTION 4. Section 254.037(b), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The deadline for filing a report electronically with the commission or an authority other than the commission as required by this chapter is midnight on the last day for filing the report.

SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 254.038 to read as follows:

Sec. 254.038 SEARCHABLE DATABASE. (a) The commission shall establish a public, web-based platform to consolidate and present campaign finance data from all filing authorities across the state in one central location on the commission's website.

(b) The platform established under Section 254.038(a) shall:

(1) aggregate and centralize campaign finance information from various sources statewide, including local and state-wide level races; and

(2) provide an intuitive, user-friendly interface for accessing and analyzing the consolidated data; and

(3) enable comprehensive searches across all races and jurisdictions, allowing users to view contributions and expenditures for specific candidates, committees, or contributors; and

(4) provide a variety of data visualization tools to enhance transparency and facilitate public understanding of campaign finance trends; and

(5) allow users to rank and sort data based on various metrics, such as contribution amounts and geographic locations.

SECTION 6. Section 254.036(f), Election Code, is repealed.

SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 254, Election Code, apply only to a report that is required to be filed with an authority other than the Texas Ethics Commission on or after September 1, 2027. A report that is required to be filed before that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.