HB596 - Relating to the use of public resources by a public school officer or employee to engage in certain political activities.

  89R2418 MPF-D     By: Troxclair H.B. No. 596       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the use of public resources by a public school officer   or employee to engage in certain political activities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 255.003, Election Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 255.003.  UNLAWFUL USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES [ FUNDS ] FOR   POLITICAL ADVERTISING AND CERTAIN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES .          SECTION 2.  Section 255.003, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (c) to read as   follows:           (a-1)     An officer or employee of a school district or   open-enrollment charter school may not use or authorize the use of   public resources to distribute a communication in any form,   including an electronic communication, that directly or indirectly   advocates for or against a candidate, measure, or political party.   This subsection does not prevent an officer or employee of a school   district or open-enrollment charter school from distributing a   communication on:                 (1)  the date of an election;                 (2)     the location of the polling places for an   election; or                 (3)     the hours that the polls will be open for an   election.          (c)  A person who violates Subsection (a) , (a-1), or (b-1)   commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class A   misdemeanor.          SECTION 3.  Section 255.003, Election Code, as amended by   this Act, applies only to the use of public funds or resources on or   after the effective date of this Act. The use of public funds or   resources before the effective date of this Act is governed by the   law in effect on the date the funds or resources were used, and that   law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.