HB686 - Relating to required disclosures on certain political advertising by political committees; providing a civil penalty.

  89R866 MPF-D     By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 686       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to required disclosures on certain political advertising   by political committees; providing a civil penalty.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 255, Election Code, is amended by adding   Section 255.009 to read as follows:           Sec.   255.009.     REQUIRED DISCLOSURE ON CERTAIN POLITICAL   ADVERTISING BY POLITICAL COMMITTEES; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A   political committee may not publish, distribute, or broadcast   political advertising supporting a slate of five or more candidates   who made a contribution to the political committee for the purpose   of obtaining that support unless the political advertising includes   a disclosure statement indicating:                 (1)     the full name of each candidate the political   advertising supports;                 (2)     that the candidates made a contribution to the   political committee for the purpose of obtaining that support; and                 (3)     if any of the candidates created the political   committee, the full name of each candidate who created the   political committee.           (b)     A political committee that violates this section is   liable to this state for a civil penalty in an amount determined by   the commission not to exceed $4,000.          SECTION 2.  Section 255.009, Election Code, as added by this   Act, applies only to political advertising that is published,   distributed, or broadcast by a political committee on or after the   effective date of this Act          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.