By: Capriglione H.B. No. 4823       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to an electronic filing system for certain reports of   political contributions and expenditures.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the Campaign Finance   Transparency Act.          SECTION 2.  Sections 254.036(a) and (g), Election Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  [Each report filed under this chapter with an authority   other than the commission must be in a format prescribed by the   commission.] A report filed with the commission that is not   required to be filed by computer diskette, modem, or other means of   electronic transfer must be on a form prescribed by the commission   and written in black ink or typed with black typewriter ribbon or,   if the report is a computer printout, the printout must conform to   the same format and paper size as the form prescribed by the   commission.          (g)  In prescribing the format of a report filed under this   chapter, including a report filed with an authority other than the   commission under Section 254.0361 [Subsection (a)], the commission   shall ensure that the report requires for political expenditures   made with a credit card that:                (1)  the expenditures be reported in a single itemized   list; and                (2)  the list include, stated by credit card issuer:                      (A)  the name of the credit card issuer;                      (B)  the date and amount of each expenditure; and                      (C)  the date the credit card issuer was repaid   for the expenditure.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is   amended by adding Section 254.0361 to read as follows:          Sec. 254.0361.  ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM FOR REPORTS FILED   WITH AN AUTHORITY OTHER THAN THE COMMISSION. (a) In this section,   "electronic filing system" means the electronic filing system the   commission implements under this section for reports filed under   this chapter with an authority other than the commission.          (b)  The commission shall implement an electronic filing   system for reports filed under this chapter with an authority other   than the commission.          (c)  Each report filed under this chapter with an authority   other than the commission must be filed using the electronic filing   system by computer diskette, modem, or other means of electronic   transfer, as the commission determines by rule.          (d)  The electronic filing system must use computer software   that is:                (1)  comparable to the computer software provided or   approved by the commission under Section 571.0671, Government Code;   and                (2)  certified under the state risk and authorization   management program established under Section 2054.0593, Government   Code, if the computer software is a cloud-based system.          (e)  The commission may collaborate with the Department of   Information Resources in implementing the electronic filing   system, including for the purpose of negotiating a bulk purchase   agreement in relation to the electronic filing system to streamline   procurement, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with applicable   state standards.          (f)  The commission shall implement and maintain the   electronic filing system using:                (1)  money appropriated to the commission for that   purpose; or                (2)  gifts, grants, or donations the commission   receives for that purpose.          (g)  The commission shall adopt rules to implement and   maintain the electronic filing system, including rules:                (1)  that require each authority other than the   commission with whom reports are filed under this chapter to   provide to the commission information contained in reports filed   using the electronic filing system in a format the commission   determines; and                (2)  on aggregating data contained in the information   the commission receives under Subdivision (1); and                (3)  on publishing the aggregated data described by   Subdivision (2) on the commission's internet website.          (h)  The commission by rule shall establish an   implementation timeline by which reports filed with an authority   other than the commission must be filed using the electronic filing   system in accordance with this section. The timeline must require   each report to be filed using the electronic filing system not later   than September 1, 2027. This subsection expires September 1, 2028.          SECTION 4.  Section 254.037(b), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The deadline for filing a report electronically with the   commission or an authority other than the commission as required by   this chapter is midnight on the last day for filing the report.          SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is   amended by adding Section 254.038 to read as follows:          Sec. 254.038  SEARCHABLE DATABASE. (a) The commission   shall establish a public, web-based platform to consolidate and   present campaign finance data from all filing authorities across   the state in one central location on the commission's website.          (b)  The platform established under Section 254.038(a)   shall:                (1)  aggregate and centralize campaign finance   information from various sources statewide, including local and   state-wide level races; and                (2)  provide an intuitive, user-friendly interface for   accessing and analyzing the consolidated data; and                (3)  enable comprehensive searches across all races and   jurisdictions, allowing users to view contributions and   expenditures for specific candidates, committees, or contributors;   and                (4)  provide a variety of data visualization tools to   enhance transparency and facilitate public understanding of   campaign finance trends; and                (5)  allow users to rank and sort data based on various   metrics, such as contribution amounts and geographic locations.          SECTION 6.  Section 254.036(f), Election Code, is repealed.          SECTION 7.  The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter   254, Election Code, apply only to a report that is required to be   filed with an authority other than the Texas Ethics Commission on or   after September 1, 2027. A report that is required to be filed   before that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before   the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in   effect for that purpose.          SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.