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Campaign Financial Reports

Campaign Finance Laws in Texas

Campaign finance laws regulate the amounts and sources of money given or received for political purposes and stipulate disclosure requirements for political contributions and expenditures.

What Do Campaign Finance Requirements Cover?

In Texas, campaign finance requirements govern:

  • How much money candidates may receive from individuals and organizations
  • How much and how often they must report those contributions
  • How much individuals, organizations, and political parties may contribute to campaigns

Who Enforces the Law?

The Texas Ethics Commission is responsible for interpreting Title 15 of the Election Code, which sets out the Texas campaign finance law.

The Commission provides a helpful resource:

Campaign Finance Guide for Candidates and Officeholders Who File With Local Filing Authorities (PDF)

Campaign Finance Guide for Candidates and Officeholders Who File With the Texas Ethics Commission (PDF)

We hope this helps you through your filing process!

Five Things to Keep in Mind When Running for Public Office in Texas

To comply with campaign finance laws, here are five key points every candidate should remember:

  • Follow State Campaign Finance Laws
     Adhere to the state’s campaign finance laws, which regulate the amounts and sources of money given or received for political purposes. In addition, these laws stipulate disclosure requirements for political contributions and expenditures.
  • Know Where to File
     Candidates for statewide office, the state legislature, State Board of Education, or district attorney must file campaign finance reports with the Texas Ethics Commission.
  • Appoint a Campaign Treasurer First
     File a campaign treasurer appointment form with the proper filing authority before accepting any campaign contribution or making/authorizing any campaign expenditure.
  • Report Sizable Contributions
     Report any sizable contribution if the money was given with the intent to be used in connection with the campaign.
  • Disclose Personal Spending
     Personal spending is allowed but must be reported as a political contribution.