H.B. No. 1804 introduces new provisions to the Texas Election Code, specifically adding Section 254.04015, which mandates the Texas Ethics Commission to monitor the availability of certain reports filed by political subdivisions on their websites. The Commission is tasked with developing procedures to ensure compliance with the requirement that these reports are accessible online. If a political subdivision is found to be non-compliant, the Commission must provide written notice of this determination.

Additionally, the bill allows the Commission to impose an administrative penalty of up to $2,500 on political subdivisions that fail to achieve substantial compliance within 30 days of receiving notice. Each day of continued non-compliance after this period is considered a separate violation. The Commission is also required to adopt rules to implement these provisions, including defining what constitutes substantial compliance. The changes will apply to reports filed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025, with a grace period for penalties until January 1, 2026.

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