H.B. No. 2826 seeks to regulate political communications and prohibit electioneering by officials and employees of school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. The bill introduces provisions that bar individuals found to have violated electioneering laws from serving on school boards for three years and establishes a registry for those ineligible for public school employment due to such violations. It defines electioneering, mandates school boards to adopt compliance protocols, and requires timely reporting of alleged violations, with protections for whistleblowers. The commissioner is empowered to enforce penalties and maintain the ineligibility registry.

Additionally, the bill amends the Education and Election Codes, clarifying that activities outside work hours do not constitute public money expenditure and establishing that certain violations can lead to a Class A misdemeanor. It allows for the distribution of political advertising under specific conditions and exempts school district governing body members from certain legislative restrictions. The bill also imposes limitations on public funds used for legal actions against the state and mandates oversight for districts engaging in such actions. It will take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 11.061, Education Code 12.120, Education Code 22.092, Education Code 39.003, Election Code 251.001, Election Code 255.003, Election Code 255.0031, Government Code 572.059 (Education Code 39, Education Code 22, Government Code 572, Election Code 251, Election Code 255, Education Code 12, Education Code 11)