Are you considering making a political contribution in Taylor, Texas? If so, it's essential to be aware of the restrictions and guidelines that apply. The campaign contribution limits are set one year before the elections, in what is known as the “pre-election cycle”. Even if a large company wants to donate directly to a candidate, it must adhere to the limit. A limited liability company (LLC), partnership, limited partnership, or any other form of business entity cannot make a political contribution in relation to local and Texas elections if the entity has any corporate property.
Corporations (including not-for-profit corporations) and labor organizations are also prohibited from making political contributions in relation to local and Texas elections. A former candidate or former official who legally accepts political contributions can use those contributions to make an expense intended to defray the expenses incurred by the individual in the performance of a function or activity related to a designated position of a state board or commission. It is also necessary to disclose in writing to the person on whose behalf the expense is made the name and address of the person actually making the expenditure, so that the person on whose behalf the expense is made can make appropriate disclosure. If an elected candidate or leader decides to end his political career and he still has money in his campaign account, Texas explains how he can get rid of it.
A candidate or incumbent who deposits personal funds into an account in which political contributions are maintained must declare the amount of personal funds deposited as a loan and may reimburse the amount deposited as a loan through political contributions or unused personal funds deposited in the account. Expenditures with personal funds must be fully declared as political expenditures, including the beneficiaries, dates, purposes and amounts of the expenditures, in the report to be submitted under this title, which covers the period in which the expenditures with personal funds were made; and. Personal funds deposited in an account in which political contributions are held are subject to Section 253.035 and must be included in reports of the total amount of political contributions held required by Sections 254.031 (a) and 254.0611 (a). A candidate or judicial official cannot knowingly accept political contributions from a general purpose committee that, together, exceed the contribution limits prescribed in this subsection in connection with an election in which the name of the judicial candidate appears on the ballot.
A candidate or incumbent who accepts one or more political contributions in the form of loans, including an extension of credit or a guarantee of a loan or extension of credit, from one or more persons related to the candidate or holder of a second-degree position by affinity or consanguinity may not use political contributions to repay loans in amounts that, together, exceed the amount prescribed in subsection (a). Finally, it's important to note that anyone who knowingly makes or accepts a political contribution or makes a political expense in violation of this chapter will be responsible for compensation to the State in the amount of triple the value of the illegal contribution or expense.
