HB1981 - Relating to the use of public resources by a public school officer or employee to engage in certain political activities.

  89R7742 MZM-D     By: Hickland H.B. No. 1981       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; PROHIBITED   USE OF CERTAIN IMAGES .          SECTION 2.  Section 255.003, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (a-3) 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.           (a-2)     An officer or employee of a school district or   open-enrollment charter school may not use or authorize the use of   public resources to transport school district or open-enrollment   charter school employees or students to a political rally or   polling place to directly or indirectly advocate 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 transporting school district   or open-enrollment charter school employees or students to a   polling place if the polling place visit is for educational   purposes only and the employees do not engage in any effort to   directly or indirectly advocate for or against a candidate,   measure, or political party.           (a-3)     A person may not use images captured of a school   district or open-enrollment charter school employee or student   during a polling place visit in political advertising or a campaign   communication.          (c)  A person who violates Subsection (a) , (a-1), (a-2),   (a-3), 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.