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HB 18

Relating to a restriction on the acceptance of political contributions and the making of certain political expenditures by a member of the legislature and certain political committees during certain periods in which a member is absent from a legislative session; authorizing a civil penalty.

89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Introduced by Keith Bell and 28 co-sponsors

Texas law now prohibits legislators from accepting campaign contributions and making certain political expenditures while absent from legislative sessions, with civil penalty enforcement.

Effective on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
#ethics(i0345) #fifteenthcourtofappeals(vm34v) #legislature(i0520) #politicalcontributions(s0114) #salaries&expenses(i0745)
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Bill Summary · HB 18

Legislative bill overview

HB 18 restricts Texas legislators and their associated political committees from accepting campaign contributions and making certain political expenditures during periods when the legislator is absent from a legislative session. The bill authorizes civil penalties for violations of these restrictions.

Why is this important

This law directly affects how legislators can fundraise and spend campaign money during legislative recesses or when they're not attending session. It could influence the timing and nature of campaign activities by sitting elected officials and shape their financial independence between legislative periods.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's effectiveness depends on how "absent from a legislative session" and "certain political expenditures" are defined and enforced—vague language could create compliance challenges or allow circumvention.
  • First Amendment concerns: Restricting campaign fundraising during specific periods may face constitutional challenges as it limits political speech and association rights, particularly if the restrictions are deemed overly broad.
  • Enforcement and fairness: The bill creates civil penalties but raises questions about who enforces compliance, what constitutes violations, and whether enforcement will be applied uniformly across all legislators regardless of party or status.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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