SECTION 20.217. Modified Reporting

(a) An opposed candidate who does not intend to accept more than the aggregate amount of political contributions or make more than the aggregate amount of political expenditures (excluding filing fees) specified in Tex. Elec. Code §254.181(a), as amended by Figure 1 in 1 TAC §18.31 in connection with any election in an election cycle may choose to file under the modified schedule.

(b) Under the modified schedule, an opposed candidate is not required to file pre-election reports or a runoff report.

(c) To select modified filing, a candidate must file a declaration of intent not to exceed more than the amount of political contributions or political expenditures (excluding filing fees) specified in Tex. Elec. Code §254.182(a), as amended by Figure 1 in 1 TAC §18.31 in connection with the election. The declaration must include a statement that the candidate understands that if either one of those limits is exceeded, the candidate will be required to file pre-election reports and, if necessary, a runoff report.

(d) A declaration under subsection (c) of this section is filed with the candidate's campaign treasurer appointment.

(e) To file under the modified schedule, a candidate must file the declaration required under subsection (c) of this section no later than the 30th day before the first election to which the declaration applies. A declaration filed under subsection (c) of this section is valid for one election cycle only.

(f) If an opposed candidate exceeds either of the limits specified in Tex. Elec. Code §254.182(a), as amended by Figure 1 in 1 TAC §18.31, the candidate must file reports under §20.213 of this title (relating to Pre-election Reports) and §20.215 of this title (relating to Runoff Report).

(g) If an opposed candidate exceeds either of the limits specified in Tex. Elec. Code §254.182(a), as amended by Figure 1 in 1 TAC §18.31 after the 30th day before the election, the candidate must file a report not later than 48 hours after exceeding the limit. If this is the candidate's first report filed, the report covers a period that begins on the day the candidate's campaign treasurer appointment was filed. Otherwise, the period begins on the first day after the period covered by the last report required by this subchapter (other than a special pre-election report or a special session report) or Subchapter D of this chapter (relating to Reporting Requirements for an Officeholder Who Does Not Have a Campaign Treasurer Appointment on File). The period covered by the report continues through the day the candidate exceeded one of the limits for modified reporting.

Source Note: The provisions of this §20.217 adopted to be effective December 31, 1993, 18 TexReg 9717; amended to be effective November 18, 2007, 32 TexReg 8305; amended to be effective January 1, 2020, 44 TexReg 7880; amended to be effective January 1, 2021, 45 TexReg 8511; amended to be effective January 3, 2022, 46 TexReg 9233; amended to be effective January 1, 2023, 47 TexReg 6822; amended to be effective January 1, 2024, 48 TexReg 6462