Skip to main content

Rules
Proposed

PROPOSED RULES


Summary of Proposed Rules, in English

Section 571.064(b) of the Government Code requires the TEC to annually adjust reporting thresholds upward to the nearest multiple of $10 in accordance with the percentage increase for the previous year in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. The laws under the TEC’s authority that include reporting thresholds are Title 15 of the Election Code (campaign finance law), Chapter 305 of the Government Code (lobby law), Chapter 572 of the Government Code (personal financial statements), Chapters 302 and 303 of the Government Code (speaker election, governor for a day, and speaker’s reunion day ceremony reports), and section 2155.003 of the Government Code (reporting requirements applicable to the comptroller). The TEC first adopted adjustments to reporting thresholds in 2019, which were effective on January 1, 2020. These new adjustments, if adopted, will be effective on January 1, 2026, to apply to contributions and expenditures that occur on or after that date.


Resumen de las Reglas Propuestas, en español:

En su reunión de juno del 2025, la Comisión de Ética de Texas (TEC por sus siglas en inglés) votó para proponer las siguientes reglas enmendadas: § 18.31, en relación con los ajustes a los umbrales de presentación de informes.

Anualmente la Sección 571.064(b) del Código Gubernamental requiere que la Comisión de Ética de Texas (TEC por sus siglas en inglés) suba los topes de las cantidades declaradas al múltiplo más próximo de $10 de acuerdo con el incremento en el porcentaje del año anterior del Índice del Precio del Consumidor para los Consumidores Urbanos, el cual se publica por medio de la Oficina de Estadísticas del Trabajo del Departamento del Trabajo de los Estados Unidos. Las leyes bajo la autoridad de la TEC que incluyen los topes de las cantidades declaradas son: el Título 15 del Código de Elecciones (la ley que gobierna las finanzas de campañas), el Capítulo 305 del Código Gubernamental (la ley del cabildeo), el Capítulo 572 del Código Gubernamental (los estados de cuentas financieras personales), los Capítulos 302 y 303 del Código Gubernamental (los reportes de la elección del presidente de la cámara de representantes, del gobernador por un día y del día de ceremonia de la reunión del presidente de la cámara de representantes), y la Sección 2155.003 del Código Gubernamental (los requerimientos para el contralor sobre el reporte). La TEC adoptó los ajustes por primera vez en los topes de las cantidades declaradas en 2019, los cuales entraron en vigor el 1 de enero del 2020. Estos nuevos ajustes, si son adoptados, entrarán en vigor el 1o. de enero del 2026 para ser aplicados a las contribuciones y los gastos que ocurren en dicha fecha o después de tal fecha.

§18.31. Adjustments to Reporting Thresholds.
Text of Proposed Amended Rule

The proposed new language is indicated by underlined text.
The deleted text is indicated by [strikethrough] text.

Chapter 18. GENERAL RULES CONCERNING REPORTS

§18.31. Adjustments to Reporting Thresholds.

(a) Pursuant to section 571.064 of the Government Code, the reporting thresholds are adjusted as follows:

Campaign Finance Reports: Section of Election Code

Threshold Description

Original Threshold Amount

Adjusted Amount

253.031(b)

PAC: Amount of contributions or expenditures permitted before TA is required

$500

$1,110 [$1,080]

253.031(d)(2)

CEC: Amount of contributions or expenditures permitted before TA is required

$25,000

$41,460 [$40,330]

253.032(a)

Contribution by Out-of-state PAC: Threshold above which certain paperwork is required

$500

$1,140 [$1,110]

253.032(a)(1)

Contribution to Out-of-state PAC: Threshold above which certain contribution information is required

$100

$230 [$220]

253.032(e)

Contribution by Out-of-state PAC: Threshold at or below which certain information is required

$500

$1,140 [$1,110]

254.031(a)(1)

Contributions: Threshold over which more information is required

$50

$110

254.031(a)(2)

Loans: Threshold over which more information is required

$50

$110

254.031(a)(3)

Expenditures: Threshold over which more information is required

$100

$230 [$220]

254.031(a)(5)

Contributions: Threshold at or below which more information is not required

$50

$110

254.031(a)(5)

Expenditures: Threshold at or below which more information is not required

$100

$230 [$220]

254.031(a)(9)

Interest, credits, refunds: Threshold over which more information is required

$100

$140

254.031(a)(10)

Sale of political assets: Threshold over which proceeds must be reported

$100

$140

254.031(a)(11)

Investment Gain: Threshold over which more information is required

$100

$140

254.031(a)(12)

Contribution Gain: Threshold over which more information is required

$100

$140

254.0311(b)(1)

Caucus, contributions from non-caucus members: Threshold over which more information is required

$50

$110

254.0311(b)(2)

Caucus, loans: Threshold over which more information is required

$50

$110

254.0311(b)(3)

Caucus, expenditures: Threshold over which more information is required

$50

$110

254.0311(b)(4)

Caucus, contributions and expenditures: Threshold at or below which more information is not required

$50

$110

254.0312

Contributions, Best Efforts: Threshold under which filer is not required to request contributor information to be in compliance

$500

$870 [$850]

254.036

Electronic Filing Exemption: Threshold at or below which a filer may qualify

$20,000

$34,890 [$33,190]

254.038(a)

Daily Reports by certain candidates and PACs: Contribution threshold triggering report

$1,000

$2,290 [$2,220]

254.039

Daily Reports by GPACs: Contribution threshold triggering report

$5,000

$7,820 [$7,600]

254.039

Daily reports by GPACs: DCE expenditure thresholds (single candidate/group of candidates)

$1,000/$15,000

$2,290/$34,330
[$2,220/$33,370]

254.0611(a)(2)

Judicial candidates, contributions: Threshold over which more information is required

$50

$110

254.0611(a)(3)

Judicial candidates, asset purchase: Threshold over which more information is required

$500

$1,140 [$1,110]

254.0612

Statewide executive and legislative candidates, contributions: Threshold over which more information is required

$500

$1,140 [$1,110]

254.095

Local officeholders, contributions: Threshold over which reporting is not required

$500

$1,140 [$1,110]

254.151(6)

GPAC, contributions: Threshold over which more information is required

$50

$110

254.1541(a)

GPAC, higher itemization threshold: Threshold under which it applies

$20,000

$33,170 [$32,240]

254.1541(b)

GPACs that meet higher itemization threshold: Threshold over which more contributor information is required

$100

$230 [$220]

254.156(1)

MPAC: Threshold over which contribution, lender and expenditure information is required

$10

$20

254.156(2)

MPACs that meet higher itemization threshold: Threshold over which more contributor information is required

$20

$50 [$40]

254.181
254.182
254.183

Candidate or SPACs, modified reporting: Contribution or expenditure threshold at or below which filers may avoid pre-election reports

$500

$1,140 [$1,110]

254.261

DCE filers: Threshold over which a report must be filed

$100

$170 [$160]


Lobby Registrations and Reports: Section of Government Code

Threshold Description

Original Threshold Amount

Adjusted Amount

305.003(1)

Lobbyist, expenditures: Threshold over which registration is required

$500, by 1 Tex. Admin. Code §34.41

$990 [$970]

305.003(2)

Lobbyist, compensation: Threshold over which registration is required

$1,000, by 1 Tex. Admin. Code §34.43

$1,990 [$1,930]

305.004(7)

Lobbying for political party: Threshold at or below which registration is not required

$5,000

$11,440 [$11,120]

305.005(g)(2)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$10,000

Less than $22,890 [Less than $22,240]

305.005(g)(3)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$25,000

$22,890 to less than $57,220 [$22,240 to less than $55,610]

305.005(g)(4)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$50,000

$57,220 to less than $114,430 [$55,610 to less than $111,220]

305.005(g)(5)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$100,000

$114,430 to less than $228,870 [$111,220 to less than $222,440]

305.005(g)(6)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$150,000

$228,870 to less than $343,300 [$222,440 to less than $333,660]

305.005(g)(7)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$200,000

$343,300 to less than $457,730 [$333,660 to less than $444,880]

305.005(g)(8)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$250,000

$457,730 to less than $572,160 [$444,880 to less than $556,100]

305.005(g)(9)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$300,000

$572,160 to less than $686,600 [$556,100 to less than $667,320]

305.005(g)(10)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$350,000

$686,600 to less than $801,030 [$667,320 to less than $778,540]

305.005(g)(11)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$400,000

$801,030 to less than $915,460 [$778,540 to less than $889,760]

305.005(g)(12)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$450,000

$915,460 to less than $1,029,890 [$889,760 to less than $1,000,980]

305.005(g)(13)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$500,000

$1,029,890 to less than $1,144,330 [$1,000,980 to less than $1,112,200]

305.005(g-1)

Lobbyist: Compensation threshold

$500,000

$1,144,330 or more [$1,112,200 or more]

305.0061(c)

Lobbyist, legislative/executive branch member: Threshold over which gifts, awards and mementos must be disclosed

$50

$110

305.0061(e-1)

Lobbyist, food and beverage: Threshold at or below which it is considered a gift and reported as such

$50

$110

305.0063

Lobbyist, annual filer: Expenditure threshold at or below which filer may file annually

$1,000

$2,290 [$2,220]


Personal Financial Statements: Section of Gov't Code

Threshold Description

Original Threshold Amount

Adjusted Amount

572.022(a)(1)

PFS threshold

less than $5,000

less than $11,440 [$11,120]

572.022(a)(2)

PFS threshold

$5,000 to less than $10,000

$11,440 [$11,120] to less than $22,890 [$22,240]

572.022(a)(3)

PFS threshold

$10,000 to less than $25,000

$22,890 [$22,240] to less than $57,220 [$55,610]

572.022(a)(4)

PFS threshold

$25,000 or more

$57,220 [$55,610] or more

572.005, 572.023(b)(1)

PFS, retainer: Threshold over which filer with a substantial interest in a business entity must report more information

$25,000

$57,220 [$55,610]

572.023(b)(4)

PFS, interest, dividends, royalties and rents: Threshold over which information must be reported

$500

$1,140 [$1,110]

572.023(b)(5)

PFS, loans: Threshold over which information must be reported

$1,000

$2,290 [$2,220]

572.023(b)(7)

PFS, gifts: Threshold over which information must be reported

$250

$570 [$560]

572.023(b)(8)

PFS, income from trust: Threshold over which information must be reported

$500

$1,140 [$1,110]

572.023(b)(15)

PFS, government contracts: Threshold of aggregate over which more information must be reported

Exceeds $10,000

 Exceeds $12,560 [$12,210]

572.023(b)(15)(A)

PFS, government contracts: Itemization threshold

 $2,500 or more $3,140 [$3,050] or more

572.023(b)(16)(D)(i)

PFS, bond counsel fees paid to legislator: Threshold

less than $5,000

 less than $6,280 [$6,100]

572.023(b)(16)(D)(ii)

PFS, bond counsel fees paid to legislator: Threshold

at least $5,000 but less than $10,000

at least $6,280 [$6,100] but less than $12,560 [$12,210]

572.023(b)(16)(D)(iii)

PFS, bond counsel fees paid to legislator: Threshold

at least $10,000 but less than $25,000

at least $12,560 [$12,210] but less than $31,410 [$30,520]

572.023(b)(16)(D)(iv)

PFS, bond counsel fees paid to legislator: Threshold

$25,000 or more

$31,410 [$30,520] or more

572.023(b)(16)(E)(i)

PFS, bond counsel fees paid to individual’s firm: Threshold

less than $5,000

less than $6,280 [$6,100]

572.023(b)(16)(E)(ii)

PFS, bond counsel fees paid to individual’s firm: Threshold

at least $5,000 but less than $10,000

 at least $6,280 [$6,100] but less than $12,560 [$12,210]

572.023(b)(16)(E)(iii)

PFS, bond counsel fees paid to individual’s firm: Threshold

at least $10,000 but less than $25,000

 at least $12,560 [$12,210] but less than $31,410 [$30,520]

572.023(b)(16)(E)(iv)

PFS, bond counsel fees paid to individual’s firm: Threshold

$25,000 or more

 $31,410 [$30,520] or more

Figures 4 and 5. No change.


(b) The changes made by this rule apply only to conduct occurring on or after the effective date of this rule.

(c) The effective date of this rule is January 1, 2026 [5].

(d) In this section: