By: Davis of Harris, et al. H.B. No. 2471         (Senate Sponsor - Buckingham)          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;   May 12, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on State   Affairs; May 19, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:     Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2017, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to prohibiting political contributions and political   expenditures made by certain persons with public funds; creating a   criminal offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 253, Election Code, is   amended by adding Section 253.007 to read as follows:          Sec. 253.007.  UNLAWFUL USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR   CONTRIBUTIONS OR EXPENDITURES. (a) An officer or employee of a   political subdivision may not spend or authorize the spending of   public funds to make a political contribution or a political   expenditure.          (b)  An officer or employee of a political subdivision may   not directly or indirectly employ a person to use public funds to   make an unlawful political contribution or political expenditure.          (c)  A person who violates Subsection (a) or (b) commits an   offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.           SECTION 2.  Section 253.007, Election Code, as added by this   Act, applies only to a political contribution or a political   expenditure made on or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.     * * * * *