H.B. No. 189 amends the Texas Election Code to streamline the filing process for campaign treasurer appointments and reports of political contributions and expenditures with the Texas Ethics Commission. Key provisions include a requirement for political committees to notify the commission of any changes in the campaign treasurer's address within ten days, and a specification that appointments for specific-purpose committees must include details about the candidate and the office sought. The bill clarifies that all campaign treasurer appointments must be filed with the commission and establishes a process for terminating the appointments of inactive candidates or political committees. Additionally, it mandates that all reports be filed with the commission and preserved for at least two years, while also emphasizing the confidentiality of electronic report data prior to filing.

The bill further enhances public access to filed reports by stipulating that the commission cannot require individuals examining these reports to provide identification or information. It centralizes the reporting system by ensuring all reports are submitted to the commission, reiterates deadlines for report submissions before elections, and repeals outdated provisions that may have caused confusion. The new regulations will apply only to campaign treasurer appointments and reports filed after the effective date of the Act, set for January 1, 2026, allowing for a clear transition from the old to the new laws.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 252.002, Election Code 252.0031, Election Code 252.005, Election Code 252.011, Election Code 252.012, Election Code 252.013, Election Code 252.0131, Election Code 252.014, Election Code 252.015, Election Code 253.031, Election Code 254.036, Election Code 254.038, Election Code 254.040, Election Code 254.0401, Election Code 254.0402, Election Code 254.043, Election Code 254.064, Election Code 254.124, Election Code 254.129, Election Code 254.154, Election Code 254.157, Election Code 254.202, Election Code 254.205, Government Code 571.079 (Election Code 253, Election Code 252, Election Code 254, Government Code 571)