H.B. No. 1804 aims to enhance the monitoring and enforcement capabilities of the Texas Ethics Commission regarding the availability of certain reports filed with political subdivisions on their websites. The bill introduces a new section, 254.04015, to the Election Code, which mandates the commission to develop procedures for monitoring compliance with the requirement that these reports be accessible online. If a political subdivision is found to be non-compliant, the commission must provide written notice, and the subdivision may face an administrative penalty of up to $2,500 if compliance is not achieved within 30 days of receiving the notice. Each day of continued non-compliance after this period is considered a separate violation.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the commission must adopt necessary rules to implement this new section, including defining what constitutes "substantial compliance." The changes will apply only to reports required to be filed on or after the effective date of the Act, with prior reports governed by existing law. The Texas Ethics Commission is required to adopt the necessary rules by December 1, 2025, and political subdivisions will not be subject to penalties until January 1, 2026. The Act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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