Texas Lawmakers Push to Enforce Election Transparency Law After Newsrooms Found School Districts Failed to Comply

Published: Friday, May 16, 2025 at 10:00 am

Texas Lawmakers Push for Stricter Campaign Finance Transparency

**Austin, TX** - Texas lawmakers are moving to strengthen campaign finance reporting requirements for local governments, following an investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune that revealed widespread non-compliance with existing online posting mandates. The proposed legislation, which has passed the Texas House and awaits Senate approval by May 28th, aims to increase transparency in local elections.

The current law, enacted nearly two years ago, requires local governments to post campaign finance reports online. However, the investigation found many school districts were unaware of the requirement or struggled to comply. Republican State Rep. Carl Tepper, the original author of the online posting mandate, is now spearheading the new bill to address these shortcomings.

The proposed measure empowers the Texas Ethics Commission to monitor local government websites and notify them of missing reports. Non-compliant entities could face fines of up to $2,500 per day after a 30-day grace period. The bill also recommends funding for the Ethics Commission to hire additional staff dedicated to monitoring local elections.

Supporters of the bill, including the superintendent of Galveston Independent School District, believe it will help local governments comply with the law. The Texas Association of School Boards acknowledges that district employees may not always be fully versed in election regulations.

While the bill focuses on local government compliance, it does not directly penalize candidates who fail to submit their reports. Rep. Tepper initially considered a provision that would have made non-filing candidates ineligible to run for office but removed it due to logistical concerns. His long-term goal is to create a centralized database for campaign finance records, a project estimated to cost $20 million.

BNN's Perspective: While the intent of increasing transparency is laudable, the bill's focus on local government compliance without directly addressing candidate accountability raises concerns. A balanced approach that holds both entities responsible is crucial for effective enforcement. The proposed fines seem reasonable, but the state should also consider providing resources and training to local governments to ensure they can easily comply with the law.

Keywords: Texas campaign finance, campaign finance transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, local elections, online posting, Carl Tepper, ProPublica, The Texas Tribune, school districts, election reporting, campaign finance reports, Texas Senate, Texas House, election laws, transparency in government, government accountability

Full Story