House Bill No. 189 amends the Election Code to improve the efficiency of filing 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 mandate that appointments for specific-purpose committees must detail the candidate and the office sought. The bill clarifies that these appointments take effect upon filing and requires the commission to maintain records of these appointments for two years after termination. Additionally, it introduces rules for terminating appointments for inactive candidates or committees and emphasizes the need for timely reporting of contributions exceeding $1,000 during specified periods.

The bill also makes significant changes to the reporting process, specifying that the commission will receive reports instead of an authority and removing the requirement for individuals examining these reports to provide identification. It clarifies deadlines for submitting reports, particularly for runoff elections and the transition of specific-purpose committees to general-purpose committees. Furthermore, the bill repeals outdated provisions and establishes that the new regulations will apply only to appointments and reports filed on or after January 1, 2026, ensuring that prior filings remain governed by the existing laws. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in campaign finance within Texas.

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 254, Election Code 252, Government Code 571, Election Code 253)