HB1613 - Relating to the making and acceptance of political contributions during a special legislative session.

  89R715 MPF-D     By: Johnson H.B. No. 1613       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the making and acceptance of political contributions   during a special legislative session.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 253.034, Election Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 253.034.  RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS DURING AND   FOLLOWING [ REGULAR ] LEGISLATIVE SESSION.          SECTION 2.  Section 253.034, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsections (b) and (c) to   read as follows:           (a-1)     During the period beginning on the date a special   legislative session convenes and continuing through the date of   final adjournment of the special legislative session, a person may   not knowingly make a political contribution to:                 (1)  a statewide officeholder;                 (2)     a member of the legislature whose term does not   expire in January of the next odd-numbered year; or                 (3)     a specific-purpose committee for supporting,   opposing, or assisting a person described by Subdivision (1) or   (2).          (b)  A person to which Subsection (a) or (a-1) applies     [ statewide officeholder, a member of the legislature, or a   specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting   a statewide officeholder or member of the legislature ] may not   knowingly accept a political contribution, and shall refuse a   political contribution that is received, during an applicable [ the ]   period prescribed by those subsections  [ Subsection (a) ]. A   political contribution that is received and refused during that   period shall be returned to the contributor not later than the 30th   day after the date of receipt. A contribution made by United States   mail or by common or contract carrier is not considered received   during that period if it was properly addressed and placed with   postage or carrier charges prepaid or prearranged in the mail or   delivered to the contract carrier before the beginning of the   period. The date indicated by the post office cancellation mark or   the common or contract carrier documents is considered to be the   date the contribution was placed in the mail or delivered to the   common or contract carrier unless proven otherwise.          (c)  This section does not apply to a political contribution   that was made and accepted with the intent that it be used:                (1)  in an election held or ordered during a  [ the ]   period prescribed by Subsection (a) or (a-1) in which the person   accepting the contribution is a candidate if the contribution was   made after the person appointed a campaign treasurer with the   appropriate authority and before the person was sworn in for that   office;                (2)  to defray expenses incurred in connection with an   election contest; or                (3)  by a person who holds a state office or a member of   the legislature if the person or member was defeated at the general   election held immediately before the session is convened or by a   specific-purpose political committee that supports or assists only   that person or member.          SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   a political contribution made on or after the effective date of this   Act.  A political contribution made before the effective date of   this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the   contribution was made, and the former law is continued in effect for   that purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.