SB 2035 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to prohibiting contributions, expenditures, and related activities involving political committees that support or oppose a ballot measure; creating a criminal offense; providing a civil penalty.

SB 2035 prohibits political committees from making contributions, expenditures, or related activities supporting or opposing ballot measures (such as proposed state laws or constitutional amendments). It directly affects political committees and individuals seeking to influence voter decisions on these measures. The bill creates criminal penalties for violations and imposes civil fines. Its key purpose is to limit financial influence on ballot measure campaigns by banning specific political spending related to them.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action May 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 7 edits · May 6, 2025
MODERATE
This bill significantly strengthens Texas election law by adding new restrictions on foreign funding for political committees that support or oppose ballot measures. It creates new criminal offenses and civil penalties for accepting foreign contributions, requires detailed reporting and certifications, and establishes confidential donor protections for nonprofit organizations. The changes aim to prevent foreign nationals from influencing Texas elections through financial contributions.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of election law to specifically address foreign funding restrictions for political committees involved in ballot measure campaigns, adding new substantive requirements that did not previously exist in the statute.
FISCAL

New restrictions prohibit political committees from knowingly accepting contributions from foreign nationals or persons that have received more than $100,000 in foreign funding in the preceding four years.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'foreign national' including individuals not US citizens, foreign governments, foreign political parties, and US persons owned by foreign entities.

REQUIREMENT

Requires political committees to obtain written affirmations from contributors confirming they are not foreign nationals and have not received excessive foreign funding.

Requires additional certification in campaign reports confirming compliance with foreign funding restrictions.

ENFORCEMENT

Creates new criminal offenses (Class B misdemeanor) and civil penalties (up to twice the contribution amount) for violating foreign funding restrictions.

Establishes confidential donor protection for nonprofit organizations, preventing public servants from disclosing lawful donor identities unless a violation is proven.

TIMELINE

The new provisions apply to contributions and activities occurring on or after September 1, 2025.

Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2025

How they voted

264
Passed
Total votes 30
May 6, 2025
D Democratic10
8 Yea 2 Nay
80% Yea
R Republican20
18 Yea 2 Nay
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
39
Key actions
11
Committee
10
Amendments
3
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
lower
May 8, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
May 7, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
May 6, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
3 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors