Sources

Sec. 2.025. RUNOFF ELECTION DAY.

Official text

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) or as otherwise provided by this code, a runoff election shall be held on a Saturday designated by the secretary of state.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 799 (H.B. 357), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2023.

(c) This section supersedes a law outside this subchapter to the extent of a conflict notwithstanding Section 2.022.

(d) A runoff election for a special election to fill a vacancy in Congress or a special election to fill a vacancy in the legislature, except an election ordered as an emergency election under Section 41.0011 or an election held as an expedited election under Section 203.013, shall be held not earlier than the 70th day or later than the 77th day after the date the final canvass of the main election is completed.

(e) A date designated by the secretary of state under this section for a runoff election:

(1) must be:

(A) not earlier than the 30th day after the date of the main election; and

(B) not later than the 45th day after the date of the main election; and

(2) may not:

(A) be a national or state holiday under Section 1.006(f); or

(B) have an early voting period that includes a national or state holiday under Section 1.006(f).

Cited in: Endorsements of local candidates, Special meetings, Notice and computing time, Candidate Committee

Sec. 13.031. APPOINTMENT; TERM.

Official text

(a) To encourage voter registration, the registrar shall appoint as deputy registrars persons who volunteer to serve.

(b) In this code, "volunteer deputy registrar" means a deputy registrar appointed under this section.

(c) Volunteer deputy registrars serve for terms expiring December 31 of even-numbered years.

(d) To be eligible for appointment as a volunteer deputy registrar, a person must:

(1) be 18 years of age or older;

(2) not have been finally convicted of a felony or, if so convicted, must have:

(A) fully discharged the person's sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by any court; or

(B) been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disability to vote;

(3) meet the requirements to be a qualified voter under Section 11.002 except that the person is not required to be a registered voter; and

(4) not have been finally convicted of an offense under Section 32.51, Penal Code.

(e) A volunteer deputy registrar appointed under this section may not receive another person's registration application until the deputy registrar has completed training developed under Section 13.047. At the time of appointment, the voter registrar shall provide information about the times and places at which training is offered.

Cited in: Precinct Chair Recruitment and Vetting Committee

Sec. 13.047. TRAINING STANDARDS FOR DEPUTY REGISTRARS.

Official text

(a) The secretary of state shall:

(1) adopt standards of training in election law relating to the registration of voters;

(2) develop materials for a standardized curriculum for that training; and

(3) distribute the materials as necessary to each county voter registrar.

(b) The training standards may include the passage of an examination at the end of a training program.

Cited in: Precinct Chair Recruitment and Vetting Committee

Sec. 16.091. RIGHT TO CHALLENGE REGISTRATION.

Official text

Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, a registered voter may challenge the registration of another voter of the same county at a hearing before the registrar.

Cited in: Election Security Committee

Sec. 31.014. CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES TO ACCEPT VOTERS.

Official text

(a) The secretary of state shall prescribe specific requirements and standards, consistent with this code, for the certification of an electronic device used to accept voters under Chapter 63 that require the device to:

(1) produce an electronic copy of the list of voters who were accepted to vote for delivery to the election judge after the polls close;

(2) display the voter's original signature in accordance with Section 63.002;

(3) accept a voter for voting even when the device is off-line;

(4) provide the full list of voters registered in the county with an indication of the jurisdictional or distinguishing number for each territorial unit in which each voter resides;

(5) time-stamp when each voter is accepted at a polling place, including the voter's unique identifier;

(6) if the county participates in the countywide polling place program under Section 43.007 or has more than one early voting polling place, transmit a time stamp when each voter is accepted, including the voter's unique identifier, to all polling place locations;

(7) time-stamp the receipt of a transmission under Subdivision (6);

(8) produce in an electronic format compatible with the statewide voter registration list under Section 18.061 data for retention and transfer that includes:

(A) the polling location in which the device was used;

(B) the dated time stamp under Subdivision (5); and

(C) the dated time stamp under Subdivision (7);

(9) produce a report with all information required to be included on a combination form under Chapter 63 and Section 64.032; and

(10) produce a copy of the list of all voters who were accepted to vote, including a reference to the voter's county election precinct and polling location where the voter was accepted to vote.

(a-1) Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent an election official from redacting information included on a document described by Subsection (a) as necessary to preserve a voter's right to a secret ballot protected under Section 4, Article VI, Texas Constitution.

(b) A device described by this section must be certified annually by the secretary of state.

(c) The secretary of state shall adopt rules that require a device described by this section used during the early voting period or under the countywide polling place program under Section 43.007 to update data in real time. If a county uses a device that does not comply with the rule in two consecutive general elections for state and county officers, the secretary of state shall assess a noncompliance fee. The noncompliance fee shall be set at an amount determined by secretary of state rule.

Cited in: Election Security Committee

Sec. 31.032. APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR; COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION.

Official text

(a) The position of county elections administrator is filled by appointment of the county election commission, which consists of:

(1) the county judge, as chair;

(2) the county clerk, as vice chair;

(3) the county tax assessor-collector, as secretary; and

(4) the county chair of each political party that made nominations by primary election for the last general election for state and county officers preceding the date of the meeting at which the appointment is made.

(b) The affirmative vote of a majority of the commission's membership is necessary for the appointment of an administrator.

(c) Each appointment must be evidenced by a written resolution or order signed by the number of commission members necessary to make the appointment. Not later than the third day after the date an administrator is appointed, the officer who presided at the meeting shall file a signed copy of the resolution or order with the county clerk. Not later than the third day after the date the copy is filed, the county clerk shall deliver a certified copy of the resolution or order to the secretary of state.

(d) The initial appointment may be made at any time after the adoption of the order creating the position.

Cited in: County Chair election board and commission duties

Sec. 31.093. DUTY TO CONTRACT.

Official text

(a) Subject to Section 41.001(d), if requested to do so by a political subdivision, the county elections administrator shall enter into a contract to furnish the election services requested, in accordance with a cost schedule agreed on by the contracting parties.

(b) A county elections administrator may but is not required to enter into a contract to conduct a training program for election judges and clerks.

(c) On request of the county chair of a political party holding a primary election in the county, the county election officer shall contract with the county executive committee of the party to perform election services, as provided by this subchapter, in the party's general primary election and runoff primary election in accordance with a cost schedule agreed on by the contracting parties.

(d) In a contract required by Subsection (c), the county election officer may not prevent the county chair or the chair's designee from supervising the conduct of the primary election, including the tabulation of results, as required by Chapter 172. A county election officer who violates this subsection commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.

(e) A county election officer must offer to contract on the same terms with the county executive committee of each political party holding a primary election in the county.

Cited in: County Chair election board and commission duties, Primary elections, Election Security Committee

Sec. 32.006. JUDGES FOR PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

Official text

(a) The county chair of a political party holding a primary election shall appoint for each primary the judges for each precinct in which the election will be held in the county and fill any vacancy that occurs in the position of presiding judge or alternate presiding judge.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 828 (H.B. 1735), Sec. 63, eff. September 1, 2017.

Cited in: Primary elections, Elections Committee

Sec. 33.003. APPOINTMENT BY POLITICAL PARTY.

Official text

(a) The county chair of each political party that has one or more nominees on the ballot may appoint watchers.

(b) If the county chair does not make an authorized appointment, any three members of the county executive committee may make the appointment.

Cited in: Elections Committee

Sec. 42.005. RELATIONSHIP TO DISTRICTS AND JUSTICE AND COMMISSIONERS PRECINCTS.

Official text

(a) A county election precinct, including a consolidated precinct, may not contain territory from more than one of each of the following types of territorial units:

(1) a commissioners precinct;

(2) a justice precinct;

(3) a congressional district;

(4) a state representative district;

(5) a state senatorial district; or

(6) a State Board of Education district.

(b) If application of this section conflicts with application of Section 42.006, this section prevails.

(c) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 143, Sec. 4, eff. May 24, 2013.

(d) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 143, Sec. 4, eff. May 24, 2013.

Cited in: House District committees and their purpose

Sec. 42.009. CONSOLIDATING PRECINCTS IN PRIMARY ELECTION.

Official text

The county executive committee of a political party holding a primary election may order two or more county election precincts consolidated into a single precinct if the polling place is located so it will adequately serve the voters of the consolidated precinct.

Cited in: Primary elections

Sec. 43.003. DESIGNATION OF LOCATION: PRIMARY ELECTION.

Official text

The county chair of a political party holding a primary election shall designate the location of the polling place for each election precinct in the primary unless the precinct is one that is consolidated. In that case, the county executive committee shall designate the location.

Cited in: Primary elections

Sec. 51.002. COUNTY ELECTION BOARD.

Official text

(a) A county election board is established in each county for the general election for state and county officers, a special election for an officer regularly elected at the general election, and any other election ordered by a county authority or held at county expense.

(b) For the general election for state and county officers and for a special election for an officer regularly elected at the general election, the county election board consists of the county judge, county clerk, voter registrar, sheriff, and county chair of each political party required to nominate candidates by primary election. For other elections, the board consists of the county judge, county clerk, voter registrar, and sheriff.

(c) The county clerk is the chair of the county election board.

(d) A meeting of the county election board shall be:

(1) held in person; and

(2) open to the public.

(e) Not later than 48 hours before each meeting of the county election board, the county clerk shall post notice of the meeting on the county's Internet website, if the county maintains a website.

Cited in: County Chair election board and commission duties

Sec. 52.002. AUTHORITY PREPARING BALLOT.

Official text

Except as otherwise provided by law, the following authority shall have the official ballot prepared:

(1) for an election ordered by the governor or a county authority, the county clerk;

(2) for a primary election, the county chair of the political party holding the primary;

(3) for an election ordered by a city authority, the city secretary; and

(4) for an election ordered by an authority of a political subdivision other than a county or city, the secretary of the subdivision's governing body or, if the governing body has no secretary, the governing body's presiding officer.

Cited in: Primary elections

Sec. 61.003. ELECTIONEERING AND LOITERING NEAR POLLING PLACE.

Official text

(a) A person commits an offense if, during the voting period and within 100 feet of an outside door through which a voter may enter the building in which a polling place is located or within 20 feet of a parking space designated for curbside voting under Section 64.009, the person:

(1) loiters; or

(2) electioneers for or against any candidate, measure, or political party.

(a-1) The entity that owns or controls a public building being used as a polling place may not, at any time during the voting period, prohibit electioneering on the building's premises outside of the area described in Subsection (a), but may enact reasonable regulations concerning the time, place, and manner of electioneering.

(b) In this section:

(1) "Electioneering" includes the posting, use, or distribution of political signs or literature. The term does not include the distribution of a notice of a party convention authorized under Section 172.1114.

(2) "Voting period" means the period beginning when the polls open for voting and ending when the polls close or the last voter has voted, whichever is later.

(c) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Cited in: Get Out the Vote Committee, Elections Committee

Sec. 123.001. ADOPTION OF VOTING SYSTEM REQUIRED.

Official text

(a) Before a voting system may be used in elections, the authority designated by this section, by resolution, order, or other official action of the authority, must adopt the system for use in the elections.

(b) The decision on whether to adopt a voting system is made by the following authority:

(1) for general elections for state and county officers, the commissioners court;

(2) for primary elections, the county executive committee of the political party holding the primary; and

(3) for any other elections:

(A) the commissioners court, if ordered by the governor or by a county authority; or

(B) the governing body of the political subdivision served by the authority ordering the elections, if ordered by an authority serving a political subdivision other than a county.

(c) If a voting system is adopted for use in elections, the voting system shall be used in the elections in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in the official action adopting the system, subject to this title.

(d) Repealed by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1107, Sec. 2.21(1), eff. January 1, 2006.

Cited in: Primary elections

Sec. 129.023. PUBLIC TEST OF LOGIC AND ACCURACY.

Official text

(a) The general custodian of election records shall create a testing board consisting of at least two persons. The general custodian of election records shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that the testing board consists of at least one person from each political party that holds a primary election.

(b) Not later than the 48th day before election day, the general custodian of election records shall conduct a logic and accuracy test. Public notice of the test must be published on the political subdivision's Internet website, if the political subdivision maintains an Internet website, or on the bulletin board used for posting notice of meetings of the political subdivision's governing body if the political subdivision does not maintain an Internet website, at least 48 hours before the test begins, and the test must be open to the public.

(b-1) If the test is being conducted for a primary election, the general custodian of election records shall notify the county chair of the test at least 48 hours before the date of the test. The county chair shall confirm receipt of the notice.

(b-2) If the test is being conducted for an election in which a county election board has been established under Section 51.002, the general custodian of election records shall notify each member of the board of the test at least 48 hours before the date of the test. If the county election board chooses to witness the test, each member shall sign the statement required by Subsection (e)(1).

(b-3) If the test cannot be conducted before the 48th day before election day, then the general custodian shall conduct the test as soon as practicable after that date and must notify the secretary of state within 24 hours of the determination that the deadline cannot be met.

(c) The general custodian of election records shall adopt procedures for testing that:

(1) direct the testing board to cast votes;

(2) verify that each contest position, as well as each precinct and ballot style, on the ballot can be voted and is accurately counted;

(3) include overvotes and undervotes for each race, if applicable to the system being tested;

(4) include write-in votes, when applicable to the election;

(5) include provisional votes, if applicable to the system being tested;

(6) calculate the expected results from the test ballots;

(7) ensure that each voting machine has any public counter reset to zero and presented to the testing board for verification before testing;

(8) require that, for each feature of the system that allows disabled voters to cast a ballot, at least one vote be cast and verified by a two-person testing board team using that feature;

(9) require that, when all votes are cast, the general custodian of election records and the testing board observe the tabulation of all ballots and compare the actual results to the expected results;

(10) ensure that each type of automatic tabulating equipment, ballot marking device, and direct recording electronic voting device used in the election is tested;

(11) include each type of ballot used in the election, including mail ballot stock and ballots marked from ballot marking devices, if any;

(12) require that tested ballots are marked and labeled to ensure they are not used in an upcoming election; and

(13) require that, if the testing board determines that the test is unsuccessful, the general custodian of election records:

(A) identify the cause of the unsuccessful test and prepare a written explanation;

(B) publish the written explanation online;

(C) retain the materials used in the unsuccessful test; and

(D) conduct a retest that is open to the public following the unsuccessful test.

(c-1) A test conducted under this section must also require the general custodian of election records to demonstrate, using a representative sample of each type of voting system equipment used in the election, that the source code of the equipment has not been altered.

(c-2) For purposes of this section, "representative sample" means ten of each type of voting device or five percent of each type of voting device to be used in the election, whichever number is fewer.

(d) A test is successful if the actual results are identical to the expected results.

(e) To provide a full and accurate account of the condition of a given voting machine, the testing board and the general custodian of election records shall:

(1) sign a written statement attesting to:

(A) the qualification of each direct recording electronic voting machine that was successfully tested;

(B) any problems discovered; and

(C) the cause of any problem if it can be identified; and

(2) provide any other documentation as necessary.

(f) On completing the testing:

(1) the testing board shall witness and document all steps taken to reset, seal, and secure any equipment or test materials, as appropriate; and

(2) the general custodian for election records shall preserve a copy of the system's software at a secure location that is outside the administrator's and programming entity's control until at least 22 months after election day.

(f-1) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures and training materials for the conduct of the test under this section.

Cited in: Election Security Committee

Sec. 145.035. WITHDRAWN, DECEASED, OR INELIGIBLE CANDIDATE'S NAME OMITTED FROM BALLOT.

Official text

A candidate's name shall be omitted from the ballot if the candidate withdraws, dies, or is declared ineligible on or before the 74th day before election day.

Cited in: Replacement nominations

Sec. 145.036. FILLING VACANCY IN NOMINATION.

Official text

(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (b-1), if a candidate's name is to be omitted from the ballot under Section 145.035, the political party's state, district, county, or precinct executive committee, as appropriate for the particular office, may nominate a replacement candidate to fill the vacancy in the nomination.

(b) An executive committee may make a replacement nomination following a withdrawal only if:

(1) the candidate:

(A) withdraws because of a catastrophic illness that was diagnosed after the first day after the date of the regular filing deadline for the general primary election and the illness would permanently and continuously incapacitate the candidate and prevent the candidate from performing the duties of the office sought; and

(B) files with the withdrawal request a certificate describing the illness and signed by at least two licensed physicians;

(2) no political party that held primary elections has a nominee for the office sought by the withdrawing candidate as of the time of the withdrawal; or

(3) the candidate has been elected or appointed to fill a vacancy in another elective office or has become the nominee for another office.

(b-1) An executive committee may make a replacement nomination following an administrative declaration of ineligibility under Section 145.003(f)(3) only if the replacement candidate pays the filing fee or submits a petition in lieu of a filing fee.

(c) Under the circumstances described by Subsection (b)(2), the appropriate executive committee of each political party making nominations for the general election for state and county officers may make a replacement nomination for the office sought by the withdrawing candidate.

(d) For the purpose of filling a vacancy, a majority of the committee's membership constitutes a quorum. To be nominated, a person must receive a favorable vote of a majority of the members voting.

(e) A vacancy in a nomination for a district, county, or precinct office that was made by primary election may not be filled before the beginning of the term of office of the county executive committee members elected in the year in which the vacancy occurs.

Cited in: Meetings required by law, Quorum, House District committees, Replacement nominations

Sec. 146.031. LIST OF WRITE-IN CANDIDATES.

Official text

(a) The authority responsible for having the official ballot prepared shall prepare a list containing the name of each write-in candidate certified to the authority. Each name must appear in the form in which it is certified.

(b) A write-in candidate's name may not appear more than once on the list.

(c) Copies of the list shall be distributed to the counting officers in the election for use in counting write-in votes.

(d) Copies of the list shall be distributed to each presiding election judge with the other election supplies. A copy of the list shall be posted in each polling place at each place where an instruction poster is required to be posted.

(e) The authority responsible for having the official ballot prepared shall retain a copy of the list and preserve it for the period for preserving the precinct election records.

Cited in: Primary elections

Sec. 161.001. INHERENT POWERS.

Official text

A political party retains all of its inherent powers except as limited by this code.

Cited in: Authority of the Bylaws and the Election Code, Severability, Severability

Sec. 161.004. PARTY DOCUMENT AS PUBLIC INFORMATION.

Official text

If a document, record, or other paper is expressly required by this title to be filed, prepared, or preserved, it is public information unless this title provides otherwise.

Cited in: Inspecting party records

Sec. 161.005. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTY OFFICES GENERALLY.

Official text

(a) To be eligible to be a candidate for or to serve as an officer of a political party, a person must:

(1) except as provided by Subsection (c), not be a candidate for nomination or election to, or be the holder of, an elective office of the federal, state, or county government; and

(2) if the office is a county or precinct chair of a political party, be a qualified voter of the county.

(a-1) For purposes of this section, the following are officers of a political party:

(1) a precinct chair;

(2) a county chair; and

(3) a member, a chair, or a vice chair of a state executive committee of a political party.

(b) For purposes of this section, a person becomes a candidate at the earliest time at which one of the following occurs:

(1) the person files:

(A) a declaration of intent to run as an independent candidate;

(B) an application for a place on a primary or general election ballot or for nomination by a convention; or

(C) a declaration of write-in candidacy; or

(2) the person is nominated by a convention or executive committee.

(c) A candidate for nomination or election to, or the holder of, an elective office of the federal, state, or county government is eligible to serve as an officer of a political party to which Chapter 181 applies.

Cited in: No added eligibility requirements for precinct chairs, Precinct chair eligibility, Precinct chair resignation, Precinct chair loss of eligibility

Sec. 162.001. AFFILIATION WITH PARTY REQUIRED.

Official text

(a) A person must be affiliated with a political party to be eligible:

(1) to serve as a delegate to or otherwise participate in a convention held by the party under this code;

(2) to be elected as a member of or be appointed to fill a vacancy on a state executive committee;

(3) to be appointed to fill a vacancy on a county executive committee; or

(4) for any other purpose within the party as adopted by state party rules.

(b) The affiliation requirement prescribed by Subsections (a)(2) and (3) applies only during a voting year in which the general election for state and county officers is held and does not apply until:

(1) general primary election day, for a party holding a primary election; or

(2) the date of the precinct conventions held under this title, for a party nominating by convention.

Cited in: No added eligibility requirements for precinct chairs, Precinct chair eligibility, Appointment to fill a precinct chair vacancy

Sec. 163.005. FILING AND POSTING RULES; EFFECTIVE DATE.

Official text

(a) The state chair shall file a copy of each rule on electoral affairs with the secretary of state.

(b) Except as provided by Section 163.006, the rule shall be filed not later than the 30th day after the date of its adoption.

(c) If the state chair fails to make a timely filing, any member of the state executive committee may make the filing.

(d) A filing must be accompanied by a written statement signed by the state chair or any two members of the state executive committee indicating whether the rule is temporary or permanent.

(e) A rule on electoral affairs is not effective until filed.

(f) All rules, temporary or permanent, shall be posted on the state party's Internet website.

Cited in: Filing the adopted rules

Sec. 171.021. COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED.

Official text

For each county in which a primary election is held, a county executive committee is established as provided by this subchapter for the political party holding the primary.

Cited in: Name of the organization

Sec. 171.022. COMMITTEE COMPOSITION.

Official text

(a) A county executive committee consists of:

(1) a county chair, who is the presiding officer, elected at the general primary election by majority vote of the qualified voters of the county who vote in the primary on that office or appointed by the county executive committee as provided by this subchapter; and

(2) a precinct chair from each county election precinct, elected at the general primary by majority vote of the qualified voters of the precinct who vote in the primary on that office, subject to Section 171.0221, or appointed by the county executive committee as provided by this subchapter.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), if no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a runoff to determine the office is conducted in the same manner as a runoff primary election to determine a nomination for public office. The candidates to be in a runoff are determined in the same manner as candidates in a runoff for a nomination.

(c) Each committee member serves for a term of two years beginning the 20th day after runoff primary election day.

(d) The state executive committee by rule may provide for the election of the county chair or precinct chairs of a particular county by plurality vote.

Cited in: Composition of the Executive Committee, Terms of office, House District committees, Fiscal year, Governing rules and defined terms, Role of the County Chair, Election of precinct chairs, Appointment to fill a precinct chair vacancy, House District chairs

Sec. 171.023. RESIDENCE OF PRECINCT CHAIR.

Official text

(a) To be eligible to be a candidate for or to serve as a precinct chair, a person must reside in the election precinct in addition to satisfying the other applicable eligibility requirements.

(b) A change in a county election precinct boundary creates a vacancy in the office of precinct chair if more than one precinct chair resides in the changed precinct or if none resides there.

(c) For the purpose of determining whether a precinct chair is a resident of a particular county election precinct, a change in a precinct boundary is not effective until February 1 following the adoption of the order making the change, except as provided by Subsection (d).

(d) If a change in a precinct boundary made by an order adopted on or after February 1 of a primary election year is scheduled to become effective before general primary election day, the change is effective on the date the order is adopted for the purpose specified by Subsection (c).

Cited in: No added eligibility requirements for precinct chairs, Precinct chair eligibility, Appointment to fill a precinct chair vacancy, Precinct chair resignation, Precinct chair loss of eligibility

Sec. 171.024. FILLING VACANCY.

Official text

(a) The county executive committee shall fill by appointment any vacancy on the committee. The state executive committee may by rule adopt procedures for filling vacancies.

(b) A majority of the committee's membership must participate in filling a vacancy in the office of county chair. To be elected, a person must receive a favorable vote of a majority of the members voting.

(c) Each party shall adopt rules to determine a percentage of committee membership that constitutes a quorum for purposes of filling a vacancy in the office of precinct chair. To be elected, a person must receive a favorable vote of a majority of the members voting.

(d) A vacancy may not be filled before the beginning of the term of office in which the vacancy occurs.

(e) After a vacancy is filled, the county chair shall submit the replacement member's name to the secretary of state for posting on the secretary of state's Internet website.

(f) The secretary of state shall create a system for the county chair to submit the information to the secretary of state for posting on the secretary of state's Internet website under Subsection (e).

(g) The state executive committee may by rule require a specific deadline for filling vacancies on a county executive committee before that committee fills a vacancy in nomination for public office, but may not set the deadline for a date later than the date that the vacancy in nomination for public office occurred. The deadline does not apply to the filling of a vacancy if the executive committee contains no members.

Cited in: Filling vacancies on the Executive Committee, Voting by mail, email, online, and in person, Quorum, Filing the adopted rules, Quorum, General duties of the County Chair, Vacancy in the office of County Chair, Appointment to fill a precinct chair vacancy, Precinct chair resignation, Precinct Chair Recruitment and Vetting Committee, Duties of House District chairs

Sec. 171.025. PROCEDURE FOR FILLING VACANCY IN OFFICE OF COUNTY CHAIR.

Official text

(a) If a vacancy occurs in the office of county chair, the secretary of the county executive committee shall call a meeting for the purpose of filling the vacancy. If a committee member files with the secretary a written request for a meeting to fill a vacancy, the secretary shall call the meeting to convene not later than the 20th day after the date the secretary receives the request.

(b) If the committee does not have a secretary or if after receiving a written request under Subsection (a) the secretary fails to call the meeting, the state chair, on written request of a member of the county executive committee filed with the state chair, shall call the meeting to convene not later than the 20th day after the date the chair receives the request.

(c) The authority calling the meeting shall notify each committee member in advance of the meeting of its time, place, and purpose.

(d) The authority calling the meeting shall designate a committee member as temporary chair, who shall call the meeting to order and preside until the vacancy is filled.

(e) In a county with a population of less than 5,000, a vacancy in the office of county chair may be filled by appointment by the state chair of a person who is not a resident of the county if:

(1) the person resides in a county in this state with a population of less than 5,000 that is adjacent to the county in which the vacancy occurs; and

(2) the secretary of state approves the appointment of the person under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state.

Cited in: Electronic meetings in an emergency, Appointed officers, Terms of office, Meetings required by law, Vacancy in the office of County Chair, Temporary replacement during military service, First Vice Chair, Secretary

Sec. 171.026. PROXY NOT ALLOWED.

Official text

A person may not participate in a county executive committee meeting as a proxy.

Cited in: Voting by mail, email, online, and in person

Sec. 171.028. COUNTY CHAIR TRANSITION.

Official text

(a) Not later than the 30th day after the date the term of office of a new county chair begins, the person formerly serving as the county chair shall transfer to the new county chair:

(1) local party bank accounts over which the former county chair has authority; and

(2) the following original records that are in the possession of the former county chair:

(A) precinct chair and county chair canvass results;

(B) candidate applications;

(C) paperwork related to the primary election; and

(D) other documents concerning party affairs.

(b) Before transferring records to a new county chair under Subsection (a), the person formerly serving as the county chair may make copies of those records.

(c) A person commits an offense if the person fails to transfer records as required by Subsection (a).

(d) An offense under Subsection (c) is a Class C misdemeanor.

Cited in: General duties of the County Chair, Keeping party records

Sec. 171.029. REMOVAL OF PRECINCT CHAIR OR COUNTY CHAIR FOR ABANDONMENT OF OFFICE.

Official text

(a) A precinct or county chair who has failed to perform statutory duties provided by this code or failed to attend four or more consecutive meetings of the county executive committee may be removed for abandonment of office as provided by this section.

(b) If authorized by a resolution passed by the county executive committee, a county chair may send a notice to a precinct chair that states that the precinct chair is considered to have abandoned the office of precinct chair and the duties of the office. The notice must:

(1) state the reasons the county executive committee believes the precinct chair has abandoned the office;

(2) be sent by certified mail; and

(3) request a response from the precinct chair not later than the seventh day after the date the precinct chair receives the notice.

(c) If authorized by a resolution passed by the state executive committee, a state chair may send a notice to a county chair that states that the county chair is considered to have abandoned the office of county chair and the duties of the office. The notice must:

(1) state the reasons the state executive committee believes the county chair has abandoned the office;

(2) be sent by certified mail; and

(3) request a response from the county chair not later than the seventh day after the date the county chair receives the notice.

(d) A precinct or county chair must respond to a notice under Subsection (b) or (c) on or before the seventh day after the date the chair receives the notice and state whether the chair wishes to continue in office. A chair's failure to respond and affirmatively state that the chair wishes to remain in office results in a vacancy in the office of precinct or county chair, as applicable. The vacancy shall be filled as provided by this subchapter.

Cited in: Staff and the Executive Director, Referral of the County Chair for removal, Duties of the precinct chair, Abandonment of office, Discipline of elected party officials

Sec. 171.051. DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED.

Official text

(a) For each district from which an officer of the federal or state government is elected, a district executive committee is established as provided by this subchapter for each political party holding a primary election.

(b) The state executive committee may by rule require a specific deadline for filling vacancies on a district executive committee before that committee fills a vacancy in nomination for public office, but may not set the deadline for a date later than the date that the vacancy in nomination for public office occurred. The deadline does not apply to the filling of a vacancy if the executive committee contains no members.

Cited in: House District committees, Senate district caucuses, House District committees and their purpose

Sec. 171.052. COMMITTEE COMPOSITION: DISTRICT COTERMINOUS WITH COUNTY.

Official text

The district executive committee for a district that is coterminous with a single county consists of the county executive committee, with the county chair serving as chair of the district committee.

Cited in: Replacement nominations

Sec. 171.053. COMMITTEE COMPOSITION: DISTRICT COMPRISING PART OF A COUNTY; FIRST MEETING.

Official text

(a) The district executive committee for a district comprising only a part of a single county consists of the members of the county executive committee who reside in the district.

(b) The members of a district executive committee shall elect a chair at the committee's first meeting from among the committee membership.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the county chair shall call the first meeting of the district executive committee to convene at any time after the precinct chairs take office. The county chair shall notify each committee member in advance of the meeting of its time, place, and purpose.

(d) If a vacancy exists in the office of chair of a senatorial district executive committee immediately before the date for conducting the regular drawing for a place on the general primary ballot, the committee shall convene on that date at the hour and place specified by the county chair to elect the district executive committee chair.

(e) Not later than the third day after the date the chair for a senatorial district executive committee is elected, the county chair shall deliver to the state chair written notice of the name and address of the person elected.

Cited in: House District committees, Replacement nominations, Discipline of elected party officials, House District committees and their purpose, House District chairs

Sec. 171.054. COMMITTEE COMPOSITION: DISTRICT SITUATED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY; FIRST MEETING.

Official text

(a) The district executive committee for a district situated in more than one county consists of the members of each county executive committee who reside in the district.

(b) The state chair shall call a meeting of the district executive committee to convene either as a whole in one location or separately in each county in the district at any time after the precinct chairs take office to fill a vacancy in a nomination or to transact any other business by the committee. The state chair shall notify the members of the district executive committee in advance of the time, place, and purpose of any meeting or meetings.

(c) If a vacancy exists in the office of senatorial district chair for a county immediately before the date for conducting the regular drawing for a place on the general primary ballot, the appropriate county executive committee members shall convene on that date at the hour and place specified by the county chair to elect that officer.

(d) If the district executive committee is meeting as a whole in one location, the members of the committee shall elect a chair at the committee's first meeting from among the committee membership. If the district executive committee is meeting separately in each county, the members meeting in each county shall elect a chair at the committee's first meeting from among the committee membership in that county.

(e) For the purposes of filling a vacancy in a nomination, the state chair shall canvass the votes of the district executive committee when meeting separately in each county and make the certification required by Section 145.037.

(f) The state executive committee shall by rule determine the quorum requirements for a district executive committee to conduct business.

(g) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1131 (H.B. 2640), Sec. 42(1), eff. September 1, 2019.

Cited in: House District committees, Senate district caucuses, Replacement nominations, House District chairs

Sec. 171.072. COMMITTEE COMPOSITION: PRECINCT WITH THREE OR MORE ELECTION PRECINCTS; FIRST MEETING.

Official text

(a) The precinct executive committee for a commissioners precinct or for a justice precinct containing three or more county election precincts consists of the members of the county executive committee who reside in the commissioners or justice precinct, as applicable.

(b) The members of a precinct executive committee shall elect a chair at the committee's first meeting from among the committee membership.

(c) The county chair shall call the first meeting of the precinct executive committee and shall notify each committee member in advance of the meeting of its time, place, and purpose.

Cited in: Replacement nominations, Special election nominations

Sec. 171.073. COMMITTEE COMPOSITION: PRECINCT WITH FEWER THAN THREE ELECTION PRECINCTS.

Official text

The precinct executive committee for a commissioners precinct or for a justice precinct containing fewer than three county election precincts consists of the county executive committee, with the county chair serving as chair of the precinct committee.

Cited in: Replacement nominations

Sec. 171.0221. ELECTION NOT HELD FOR OFFICE OF PRECINCT CHAIR.

Official text

(a) If only one candidate's name is to be placed on the ballot for the office of precinct chair and no candidate's name is to be placed on the list of write-in candidates for that office, the election for that office is not held, and the unopposed candidate, if otherwise eligible, shall be declared elected to the office at the time of the local canvass.

(b) The county chair shall prepare a document that shall be posted that states: "Pursuant to Section 171.0221, Election Code, (insert name of unopposed candidate for precinct chair), if otherwise eligible, shall be declared elected to the office of precinct chair at the time of the local canvass." The county chair or entity contracted to hold the election shall distribute copies of the document to the presiding judge of the election precinct with the other election supplies. An election officer shall post the document in one or more locations in the polling place where it can be read by persons waiting to vote.

(c) The county chair shall post the name of a candidate declared elected under Subsection (a) at a public place in the election precinct.

Cited in: Election of precinct chairs

Sec. 171.0231. WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY CHAIR OR PRECINCT CHAIR.

Official text

(a) Write-in candidates are not permitted for county chair or precinct chair unless a county executive committee authorizes write-in candidates.

(b) If the county executive committee authorizes write-in candidates:

(1) a write-in vote for the office of county chair or precinct chair may not be counted unless the name written in appears on the list of write-in candidates;

(2) to be entitled to a place on the list of write-in candidates, a candidate must make a declaration of write-in candidacy;

(3) a declaration of write-in candidacy must be filed with the authority with whom an application for a place on the ballot is required to be filed for the office;

(4) a declaration of write-in candidacy must be filed not later than 6 p.m. of the fifth day after the date of the filing deadline for the general primary election;

(5) with the appropriate modifications and to the extent practicable, Subchapter B, Chapter 146, applies to write-in voting for the office of county chair or precinct chair; and

(6) the secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures necessary to implement this subsection.

Cited in: Primary elections, Election of precinct chairs

Sec. 171.0251. TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT OF COMMITTEE MEMBER IN MILITARY.

Official text

(a) In this section, "armed forces of the United States" means the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard, any reserve or auxiliary component of any of those services, or the National Guard.

(b) A member of the county executive committee who enters active duty in the armed forces of the United States as a result of being called to duty, drafted, or activated does not vacate the office held, but the committee member may appoint a replacement to serve as a temporary acting officer if the committee member will be unable to fulfill the member's duties, due to the member's obligations to the armed forces of the United States.

(c) The temporary acting officer appointed as provided by Subsection (b) must be:

(1) a member of the same political party as the committee member being temporarily replaced; and

(2) qualified for office under Section 161.005.

(d) The temporary acting officer appointed as provided by Subsection (b) has all the powers, privileges, and duties of the office and is entitled to the same compensation, payable in the same manner and from the same source, as the member of the county executive committee who is temporarily replaced.

(e) The temporary acting officer appointed as provided by Subsection (b) shall perform the duties of the committee member until the earlier of:

(1) the date the active military service of the committee member who is temporarily replaced ends; or

(2) the date the term of office of the committee member who is temporarily replaced expires.

Cited in: Temporary replacement during military service

Sec. 172.022. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPLICATION FILED.

Official text

(a) An application for a place on the general primary election ballot must be filed with:

(1) the state chair, for an office filled by voters of more than one county; or

(2) the county chair or the secretary, if any, of the county executive committee, for an office filled by voters of a single county.

(b) Not later than the day before the last day of the filing period, the county chair shall post on the political party's Internet website or in the location where a candidate files for a place on the ballot notice of the address at which the county chair or secretary will be available to receive applications on the last day of the filing period. If both the county chair and the secretary will be available, the notice must contain the address at which each will be available. Section 1.006 does not apply to this subsection.

Cited in: General duties of the County Chair, Election of precinct chairs, Secretary

Sec. 172.081. PRIMARY COMMITTEE.

Official text

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a primary committee is established in each county having a county executive committee. The primary committee consists of:

(1) the county chair; and

(2) four other members of the county executive committee, appointed by the county chair subject to the executive committee's approval.

(b) The county executive committee by resolution may provide that the primary committee consist of more or fewer than five members or that a primary committee not be established. If a primary committee is not established, the county chair shall perform the duties of the primary committee prescribed by this chapter unless the county executive committee designates another member of the committee for that purpose.

(c) The county chair serves as chair of the primary committee.

Cited in: Primary elections

Sec. 172.083. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF BALLOT BY PRIMARY COMMITTEE.

Official text

If a primary committee was established, before having the official ballots for a general primary election printed, the county chair shall submit the format for the official ballot to the primary committee for its review and approval.

Cited in: Primary elections

Sec. 172.111. CONDUCT OF PRIMARY ELECTION GENERALLY.

Official text

(a) With respect to the conduct of a primary election, this subchapter supersedes Title 6 to the extent of any conflict.

(b) The county executive committee shall supervise the overall conduct of a primary election in each county.

Cited in: Powers and governing rules, Primary elections

Sec. 172.116. LOCAL CANVASS RELATING TO CANDIDATES WHO FILED AN APPLICATION FOR A PLACE ON THE BALLOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.

Official text

(a) The county chair or the county chair's designee and, if available, at least one member of the county executive committee selected by the county executive committee shall canvass the precinct election returns for the county.

(b) The county chair or the county chair's designee and any selected county executive committee member shall convene to conduct the local canvass on the second Thursday after election day at the hour specified by the county chair and posted on the county party website or the commissioners court bulletin board if the county organization of the political party does not maintain a website.

(c) The county clerk shall prepare and electronically submit to the secretary of state a report of the results of the canvass, which must include:

(1) the total number of votes cast in each precinct for each candidate or measure; and

(2) the number of counted and uncounted provisional ballots cast in each precinct.

(d) The final canvass is concluded when the chair digitally certifies the canvass report on the secretary of state's website. The posting on the site that the results are final completes the canvass report. The chair is not required to file any additional notice or report with the county clerk.

(e) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1179 (S.B. 1073), Sec. 15(2), eff. September 1, 2015.

(f) The local canvass is open to the general public.

(g) The official result of the primary election, except for offices canvassed at the state level, is determined from the local canvass of precinct returns and shall be posted to the secretary of state's website.

(h) A designee appointed by the county chair to conduct the local canvass under this section must be:

(1) a member of the county executive committee; or

(2) if no member of the county executive committee is available to conduct the canvass, a resident of the county served by the committee who is affiliated with the same political party.

Cited in: Primary elections

Sec. 174.022. TIME AND PLACE OF CONVENTION.

Official text

(a) The precinct conventions may be held at a time and place as determined by rules adopted by the state executive committee of a political party.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1054, Sec. 33, eff. June 14, 2013.

(c) If conventions are held on general primary election day, the hour set for convening the conventions may not be earlier than 7 p.m. or later than 9 p.m., but a convention may not convene until the last voter has voted at the precinct polling place. If conventions are held on a day other than general primary election day, the county executive committee shall set the hour for convening or a time frame in which the conventions must convene.

(d) The place selected for a convention must meet the same requirements for access by the elderly and persons with physical disabilities as a polling place under Section 43.034(a).

Cited in: Conventions

Sec. 174.062. TYPE OF CONVENTION HELD.

Official text

(a) A party may adopt rules for holding conventions at any level before and including the state convention. If a state executive committee has not adopted other rules, conventions shall be held as follows:

(1) except as provided by Subdivision (3), a county convention shall be held in a county if the county is not situated in more than one state senatorial district;

(2) if a county is situated in more than one state senatorial district, instead of a county convention a senatorial district convention shall be held in each part of the county that is situated in a different senatorial district, unless otherwise provided by party rule; or

(3) if the county executive committee for a political party determines that no suitable location for the county convention is available in the county, the county executive committee may apply to the state executive committee of that political party to issue an order permitting the county convention to be held at a location outside the county.

(b) An order under Subsection (a)(3) must be entered in the minutes of the state executive committee not later than the 30th day before the date the county convention is to be held.

Cited in: Conventions, Senate district caucuses

Sec. 202.006. NOMINATION BY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Official text

(a) A political party's state, district, county, or precinct executive committee, as appropriate for the particular office, may nominate a candidate for the unexpired term if:

(1) in the case of a party holding a primary election, the vacancy occurs after the fifth day before the date of the regular deadline for candidates to file applications for a place on the ballot for the general primary election; or

(2) in the case of a party nominating by convention, the vacancy occurs after the fourth day before the date the convention having the power to make a nomination for the office convenes.

(b) The nominating procedure for an unexpired term under this section is the same as that provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 145, for filling a vacancy in a party's nomination, to the extent that it can be made applicable.

Cited in: Meetings required by law, Quorum, House District committees, Special election nominations

Sec. 251.001. DEFINITIONS.

Official text

In this title:

(1) "Candidate" means a person who knowingly and willingly takes affirmative action for the purpose of gaining nomination or election to public office or for the purpose of satisfying financial obligations incurred by the person in connection with the campaign for nomination or election. Examples of affirmative action include:

(A) the filing of a campaign treasurer appointment, except that the filing does not constitute candidacy or an announcement of candidacy for purposes of the automatic resignation provisions of Article XVI, Section 65, or Article XI, Section 11, of the Texas Constitution;

(B) the filing of an application for a place on a ballot;

(C) the filing of an application for nomination by convention;

(D) the filing of a declaration of intent to become an independent candidate or a declaration of write-in candidacy;

(E) the making of a public announcement of a definite intent to run for public office in a particular election, regardless of whether the specific office is mentioned in the announcement;

(F) before a public announcement of intent, the making of a statement of definite intent to run for public office and the soliciting of support by letter or other mode of communication;

(G) the soliciting or accepting of a campaign contribution or the making of a campaign expenditure; and

(H) the seeking of the nomination of an executive committee of a political party to fill a vacancy.

(2) "Contribution" means a direct or indirect transfer of money, goods, services, or any other thing of value and includes an agreement made or other obligation incurred, whether legally enforceable or not, to make a transfer. The term includes a loan or extension of credit, other than those expressly excluded by this subdivision, and a guarantee of a loan or extension of credit, including a loan described by this subdivision. The term does not include:

(A) a loan made in the due course of business by a corporation that is legally engaged in the business of lending money and that has conducted the business continuously for more than one year before the loan is made; or

(B) an expenditure required to be reported under Section 305.006(b), Government Code.

(3) "Campaign contribution" means a contribution to a candidate or political committee that is offered or given with the intent that it be used in connection with a campaign for elective office or on a measure. Whether a contribution is made before, during, or after an election does not affect its status as a campaign contribution.

(4) "Officeholder contribution" means a contribution to an officeholder or political committee that is offered or given with the intent that it be used to defray expenses that:

(A) are incurred by the officeholder in performing a duty or engaging in an activity in connection with the office; and

(B) are not reimbursable with public money.

(5) "Political contribution" means a campaign contribution or an officeholder contribution.

(6) "Expenditure" means a payment of money or any other thing of value and includes an agreement made or other obligation incurred, whether legally enforceable or not, to make a payment.

(7) "Campaign expenditure" means an expenditure made by any person in connection with a campaign for an elective office or on a measure. Whether an expenditure is made before, during, or after an election does not affect its status as a campaign expenditure.

(8) "Direct campaign expenditure" means a campaign expenditure that does not constitute a campaign contribution by the person making the expenditure. A campaign expenditure does not constitute a contribution by the person making the expenditure to a candidate or officeholder if the expenditure is made without the prior consent or approval of the candidate or officeholder on whose behalf the expenditure is made. A campaign expenditure made in connection with a measure does not constitute a contribution by the person making the expenditure if it is not made as a political contribution to a political committee supporting or opposing the measure.

(9) "Officeholder expenditure" means an expenditure made by any person to defray expenses that:

(A) are incurred by an officeholder in performing a duty or engaging in an activity in connection with the office; and

(B) are not reimbursable with public money.

(10) "Political expenditure" means a campaign expenditure or an officeholder expenditure.

(11) "Reportable activity" means a political contribution, political expenditure, or other activity required to be reported under this title.

(12) "Political committee" means two or more persons acting in concert with a principal purpose of accepting political contributions or making political expenditures. The term does not include a group composed exclusively of two or more individual filers or political committees required to file reports under this title who make reportable expenditures for a joint activity.

(13) "Specific-purpose committee" means a political committee that does not have among its principal purposes those of a general-purpose committee but does have among its principal purposes:

(A) supporting or opposing one or more:

(i) candidates, all of whom are identified and are seeking offices that are known; or

(ii) measures, all of which are identified;

(B) assisting one or more officeholders, all of whom are identified; or

(C) supporting or opposing only one candidate who is unidentified or who is seeking an office that is unknown.

(14) "General-purpose committee" means a political committee that has among its principal purposes:

(A) supporting or opposing:

(i) two or more candidates who are unidentified or are seeking offices that are unknown; or

(ii) one or more measures that are unidentified; or

(B) assisting two or more officeholders who are unidentified.

(15) "Out-of-state political committee" means a political committee that:

(A) makes political expenditures outside this state; and

(B) in the 12 months immediately preceding the making of a political expenditure by the committee inside this state (other than an expenditure made in connection with a campaign for a federal office or made for a federal officeholder), makes 80 percent or more of the committee's total political expenditures in any combination of elections outside this state and federal offices not voted on in this state.

(16) "Political advertising" means a communication supporting or opposing a candidate for nomination or election to a public office or office of a political party, a political party, a public officer, or a measure that:

(A) in return for consideration, is published in a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical or is broadcast by radio or television; or

(B) appears:

(i) in a pamphlet, circular, flier, billboard or other sign, bumper sticker, or similar form of written communication; or

(ii) on an Internet website.

(17) "Campaign communication" means a written or oral communication relating to a campaign for nomination or election to public office or office of a political party or to a campaign on a measure.

(18) "Labor organization" means an agency, committee, or any other organization in which employees participate that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work.

(19) "Measure" means a question or proposal submitted in an election for an expression of the voters' will and includes the circulation and submission of a petition to determine whether a question or proposal is required to be submitted in an election for an expression of the voters' will.

(20) "Commission" means the Texas Ethics Commission.

(21) "In-kind contribution" means a contribution of goods, services, or any other thing of value that is not money, and includes an agreement made or other obligation incurred, whether legally enforceable or not, to make the contribution. The term does not include a direct campaign expenditure.

Cited in: Support plan for endorsed candidates

Sec. 253.031. CONTRIBUTION AND EXPENDITURE WITHOUT CAMPAIGN TREASURER PROHIBITED.

Official text

(a) A candidate may not knowingly accept a campaign contribution or make or authorize a campaign expenditure at a time when a campaign treasurer appointment for the candidate is not in effect.

(b) A political committee may not knowingly accept political contributions totaling more than $500 or make or authorize political expenditures totaling more than $500 at a time when a campaign treasurer appointment for the committee is not in effect.

(c) A political committee may not knowingly make or authorize a campaign contribution or campaign expenditure supporting or opposing a candidate for an office specified by Section 252.005(1) in a primary or general election unless the committee's campaign treasurer appointment has been filed not later than the 30th day before the appropriate election day.

(d) This section does not apply to a political party's county executive committee that accepts political contributions or makes political expenditures, except that:

(1) a county executive committee that accepts political contributions or makes political expenditures shall maintain the records required by Section 254.001; and

(2) a county executive committee that accepts political contributions or makes political expenditures that, in the aggregate, exceed $25,000 in a calendar year shall file:

(A) a campaign treasurer appointment as required by Section 252.001 not later than the 15th day after the date that amount is exceeded; and

(B) the reports required by Subchapter F, Chapter 254, including in the political committee's first report all political contributions accepted and all political expenditures made before the effective date of the campaign treasurer appointment.

(e) This section does not apply to an out-of-state political committee unless the committee is subject to Chapter 252 under Section 251.005.

(f) A person who violates this section commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

Cited in: Treasurer

Sec. 254.153. SEMIANNUAL REPORTING SCHEDULE FOR COMMITTEE.

Official text

(a) The campaign treasurer of a general-purpose committee shall file two reports for each year as provided by this section.

(b) The first report shall be filed not later than July 15. The report covers the period beginning January 1, the day the committee's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through June 30.

(c) The second report shall be filed not later than January 15. The report covers the period beginning July 1, the day the committee's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through December 31.

Cited in: Fiscal year, Treasurer

Sec. 255.001. REQUIRED DISCLOSURE ON POLITICAL ADVERTISING.

Official text

(a) A person may not knowingly cause to be published, distributed, or broadcast political advertising containing express advocacy that does not indicate in the advertising:

(1) that it is political advertising; and

(2) the full name of:

(A) the person who paid for the political advertising;

(B) the political committee authorizing the political advertising; or

(C) the candidate or specific-purpose committee supporting the candidate, if the political advertising is authorized by the candidate.

(b) Political advertising that is authorized by a candidate, an agent of a candidate, or a political committee filing reports under this title shall be deemed to contain express advocacy.

(c) A person may not knowingly use, cause or permit to be used, or continue to use any published, distributed, or broadcast political advertising containing express advocacy that the person knows does not include the disclosure required by Subsection (a). A person is presumed to know that the use of political advertising is prohibited by this subsection if the commission notifies the person in writing that the use is prohibited. A person who learns that political advertising signs, as defined by Section 259.001, that have been distributed do not include the disclosure required by Subsection (a) or include a disclosure that does not comply with Subsection (a) does not commit a continuing violation of this subsection if the person makes a good faith attempt to remove or correct those signs. A person who learns that printed political advertising other than a political advertising sign that has been distributed does not include the disclosure required by Subsection (a) or includes a disclosure that does not comply with Subsection (a) is not required to attempt to recover the political advertising and does not commit a continuing violation of this subsection as to any previously distributed political advertising.

(d) This section does not apply to:

(1) tickets or invitations to political fund-raising events;

(2) campaign buttons, pins, hats, or similar campaign materials; or

(3) circulars or flyers that cost in the aggregate less than $500 to publish and distribute.

(e) A person who violates this section is liable to the state for a civil penalty in an amount determined by the commission not to exceed $4,000.

Cited in: Duties of the precinct chair

Rule No. 1 – Adoption and Amendment of Rules; Clarification

These Rules, having been filed with the Secretary of State of Texas, together with the statutes, rules, and bylaws adopted by reference shall constitute the Rules of the Republican Party of Texas (“Rules”).

a. Amendments – Amendments to Rules may be proposed by:

1. Majority vote of the State Republican Executive Committee (“SREC”), at any meeting properly called and constituted, provided at least seven (7) days prior written notice of the full text proposed has been given in writing to each member thereof; or

2. The Permanent Rules Committee of any State Convention.

b. Adoption – These Rules, with the exception of Permanent State Executive Committee Rules required or authorized by state law, may be changed only by action of a State Convention, such action reflecting a majority of votes cast by delegates present and voting. When any change is made a certified copy of the changes shall be filed with the Secretary of State not later than thirty (30) days following their adoption.

c. Temporary and Emergency Changes – The SREC in its best judgment, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting, provided prior written notice of the full text proposed has been given to each member thereof, may prescribe such temporary and emergency changes of these Rules so as to permit the orderly conduct of the affairs of the Republican Party of Texas in accordance with the intent and purpose of these Rules. Such temporary and emergency changes may be made when the conduct, operation, or implementation of these Rules will become frustrated or impracticable, or contrary to their intent and purpose, if by reason of:

1. valid laws enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas;

2. any administrative or judicial action of any officer, or agency of the State of Texas or any county or political subdivision thereof, or of the Federal Government;

3. any interpretation of these Rules as they relate to The Rules of the Republican Party (national) by any duly authorized official of the Republican National Committee; or

4. technical inconsistencies or defects. Any such changes shall be valid only until such time, if any, as they are ratified or amended by the next subsequent State Convention, or until the adjournment of such State Convention, whichever shall occur first.

d. Permanent State Executive Committee Rules – The SREC, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting, provided at least seven (7) days prior written notice of the full text proposed has been given to each member thereof, may prescribe Permanent State Executive Committee Rules that are not subject to amendment by action of a State Convention.

1. These Permanent State Executive Committee Rules may be amended by the SREC by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting at any meeting properly called and constituted, provided at least seven (7) days prior written notice of the full text proposed has been given in writing to each member thereof. Any Permanent State Executive Committee Rule shall be identified in these Rules by the notation “(Permanent State Executive Committee Rule).”

2. At the first meeting of each term the SREC may, by a vote of a majority of those present and voting, delegate temporary authority to amend a Permanent State Executive Committee Rule to a State Rules Committee of the subsequent State Convention, except for Rule No. 1, as the State Rules Committee determines and reports to the State Convention for consideration. Said temporary authority shall expire with the adjournment of the State Convention. Any Permanent State Executive Committee Rule delegated to the State Convention shall be identified in these Rules by the notation “(Permanent State Executive Committee Rule delegated to the State Convention).”

e. Any amendments made to these Rules and contained herein which govern or affect the Republican Party of Texas’ general or runoff primary elections, conventions, or nominees, are effective January 1 on the odd-numbered year following adoption.

f. Clarification – Any member of the Republican Party of Texas who discovers an ambiguity in these Rules may request in writing a clarification from the County Chairman or the State Chairman. Clarification from the State Chairman shall be binding on all members of the Republican Party of Texas until final clarification is made by majority vote of the SREC. Any clarification made shall be to maintain the intent and purpose of these Rules as originally adopted.

g. Definitions – When computing any period of days referred to in these Rules, the first (1st) day is excluded and the last day is included. Also, if the last day of any period of days is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the period is extended to include the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

h. Titles in any rules or supplemental rules of this party or its conventions are non-substantive and for informational purposes only.

Cited in: Organizational meeting, Notice and computing time, Filing the adopted rules, Precinct chair eligibility

Rule No. 3 – Discrimination Prohibited

Participation in any Republican convention or meeting including, but not limited to, any primary caucus, any meeting or convention held for the purposes of selecting delegates to a County, District, State, or National Convention shall in no way be abridged for reason of sex, age, race, religion, color, or national origin.

Cited in: Censure of Republican officeholders, Precinct Chair Recruitment and Vetting Committee, Legislative and Political Priorities Committee

Rule No. 4 – Adoption by Reference: Constitution of the United States and Constitution of the State of Texas

The Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Texas, insofar as they may be applicable, are hereby adopted by reference and shall govern the conduct of all conventions and meetings of the Republican Party of Texas from the precinct level through the state level. Nothing in these rules shall be deemed to waive any rights of the Republican Party of Texas.

Cited in: Authority of the Bylaws and the Election Code, Censure of Republican officeholders, Election of precinct chairs, Appointment to fill a precinct chair vacancy, Precinct Chair Recruitment and Vetting Committee

Rule No. 5 – Parliamentary Authority

Unless otherwise provided for by the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Texas, or these Rules, the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, which is hereby adopted by reference, shall be the parliamentary authority governing all conventions and meetings of the Republican Party of Texas from the precinct level through the state level, inclusive.

Cited in: Parliamentary authority, Parliamentarian

Rule No. 6 – Proxies Prohibited

The use of proxies or proxy voting is hereby prohibited in all Republican Party of Texas proceedings, from the precinct level through the state level, inclusive, except the SREC, which allows proxies in accordance with SREC Bylaws provided that the proxy resides in the district for which he or she would serve. Additionally, a person may not hold more than one proxy at any meeting.

Cited in: Voting by mail, email, online, and in person

Rule No. 7 – Casting Votes

a. At all conventions, executive committee meetings, and any other Party meetings, votes shall be cast and counted in the manner prescribed by the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised; and except as provided in this Rule, the vote of each member shall have equal weight. In any convention, except a Precinct Convention or a State Convention when organized in Congressional District Caucuses, any delegation present, upon request, shall be permitted, during a roll call vote or a secret ballot vote, to cast the number of votes equal to the number of delegates to which it is entitled on any item of business.

b. A roll call vote shall be taken:

1. when ordered by majority vote of the delegates at any convention, caucus, or meeting, or

2. when demanded by one-fifth (1/5) of the participants at a Precinct Convention, or

3. when demanded in writing by at least one-fifth (1/5) of the delegations from the precincts represented at a County or Senatorial District Convention, or

4. when demanded in writing by at least one-fifth (1/5) of the delegations from the districts represented at a State Convention, or

5. when demanded in writing by one-fifth (1/5) of the members in the case of a committee meeting, Party caucus, or

6. when ordered by a Convention Chairman, or

7. for final adoption of any SREC bylaw or standing rule, any amendment to a Republican Party of Texas rule, any item in the report of the resolutions committee, or other motion presented in the form of a resolution in a meeting of the SREC, except that this requirement may be waived for any individual motion by unanimous consent. The SREC Secretary shall make the roll call vote available on the public portion of the Republican Party of Texas website within ten (10) business days of the adjournment of the SREC meeting. In the event of a roll call vote at a convention other than a precinct convention, each Delegation Chairman shall poll the delegation and shall announce the result when the delegation is reached. If any delegate doubts the correctness of the announcement, the Secretary of the meeting shall poll such delegation and announce the result.

Cited in: Voting by mail, email, online, and in person, Calling committee meetings

Rule No. 8 – State Executive Committee and County Executive Committee – Organization

a. Compliance Required – The SREC, each county executive committee, each district executive committee, and any committee or subcommittee created by any Bylaws or Rules adopted by same, shall comply with and be established in accordance with these Rules.

b. Supplemental Rules Permitted – The SREC elected at the biennial State Convention or a county executive committee elected in a biennial primary election or a district executive committee created pursuant to the bylaws of any political subdivision within the Party, may adopt supplemental rules or bylaws, provided however that such rules or bylaws do not conflict with any rules or bylaws of a higher authority including, but not limited to, these Rules. All such rules and bylaws shall be filed with the SREC and are hereby adopted by reference.

c. Organizational Meeting and First Quarterly Meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee – The SREC shall hold its organizational meeting after the adjournment of the biennial State Convention. The agenda of the organizational meeting shall include, but not be limited to, the adoption of Bylaws or Rules for the biennium. Upon the adoption of the SREC Bylaws or Rules by the SREC, at the SREC organizational meeting, the SREC Bylaws and Rules shall be amendable at this meeting and the first quarterly meeting by a majority of the entire membership.

d. The SREC Bylaws may only be amendable by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full body for any SREC meeting following the first quarterly meeting subject only to adopted notice requirements.

e. Organizational Meeting of a County Executive Committee (CEC) – A County Executive Committee shall hold its organizational meeting within forty-five (45) days after the term of office begins for the County Chairman and the Precinct Chairmen. (The term of office begins twenty (20) days after the Primary Runoff Election.) The County Chairman of the incoming term shall be responsible for calling the meeting; however, if the County Chairman does not call the meeting within the forty-five (45) days, then one-fourth (1/4) or fifty (50) of the Precinct Chairmen, whichever is fewer, may, by written demand, call an organizational meeting. Notice of the organizational meeting and a copy of any proposed Bylaws or Rules shall either be mailed via the USPS or sent by electronic mail, but only if the precinct chairman’s electronic mail address is known, and be posted on the county party website, if available. The notice and any Bylaws or Rules may be sent prior to the end of the previous term. Delivery will be to the last known physical or electronic mail address of the members of the CEC at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting. Such notice shall state the time, date, and location of the meeting and the names(s) of the person(s) issuing the call. The agenda of the organizational meeting shall include, but not be limited to, the swearing in of the newly elected executive committee members and the adoption of Bylaws or Rules for the biennium. The adoption of Bylaws or Rules, if any, shall be the first required action at the organizational meeting of the CEC, preceded only by swearing in the elected Precinct Chairmen. Failure to adopt Bylaws or Rules for the current biennium by a majority of those present and voting shall enact the previous biennium’s Bylaws or Rules.

f. Limitations on County Executive Committee (CEC) Meetings – No County Executive Committee meeting shall be held two (2) days prior, during, or two (2) days after the week of the biennial State Convention or during any calendar week in which committee meetings or general sessions of the quadrennial National Convention are scheduled. Once a County Executive Committee meeting has been properly noticed in accordance with these Rules and the Rules or Bylaws of the County Executive Committee, no other County Executive Committee meeting of any type, other than for statutory business, shall be held during the period that runs from two (2) days prior to two (2) days after the scheduled County Executive Committee meeting.

g. Open Meetings and Right to Testify – All meetings of any State or County Executive Committee (CEC) or its committees, subcommittees, or ad hoc committees shall be open to any member of that executive committee, and any member shall have the right to appear before any such committee, subcommittee, or ad hoc committee and make recommendations for the committee’s consideration or testify concerning any item under purview of the committee and to record or livestream with electronic devices the proceedings of any meeting not held in executive session. The committee may adopt reasonable rules including time limits for such presentations and may establish a reasonable limit of time for these presentations. This Rule does not preclude the committee from going into executive session; however, such executive session(s) shall be open to any member of the executive committee including ex-officio members. Video recordings of all public SREC meetings shall be required and made available via a link on the website of the Republican Party of Texas (https://www.texasgop.org).

h. The County Chairman shall maintain a current list of the name, mailing address, phone number, electronic mail address (if available), and precinct number of every Republican Precinct Chairman who was elected in the Primary, the Primary Runoff, or was appointed by the County Executive Committee (CEC) to fill a Precinct Chairman vacancy. The list shall be updated within seven (7) business days of an election changing the status of the list and shall be made available at reproduction costs or by electronic mail to any Republican Precinct Chairman, Republican Party Official, Republican Elected Officeholder, or Republican Candidate for Elective Office of the county requesting such.

i. Filling Vacancies on a County Executive Committee (Permanent State Executive Committee Rule) – A County Executive Committee (CEC) shall, by majority vote at its organizational meeting, adopt a Bylaw or Rule for filling vacancies on the County Executive Committee.

j. Permit Electronic Executive Committee Meetings – In the event of a stated emergency, as declared by the Chairman, an Executive Committee Meeting may be conducted through use of electronic meeting services designated by the Chairman. In the event an Executive Committee Meeting is held electronically, the electronic meeting must allow for the real-time sharing and viewing of committee documents, including the current motion, any amendments to that motion, and any reports that the Committee considers.

k. Removal of County Chairman for Abandonment of Office or Ineligibility – If the County Executive Committee (CEC), by a majority vote of the full body, finds that a County Chairman has failed to perform his or her duties or is no longer eligible for office, the CEC shall send a resolution and supporting documentation to the SREC Officials Committee to begin an official review for remedy. The County Chairman being reviewed must be notified at least seven (7) days in advance of any meeting concerning his or her removal and must be offered the opportunity to present his or her own defense before a vote on removal is taken. Nothing in this Rule prohibits any person affiliated with the Republican Party of Texas from causing a resolution to be considered by the State Republican Executive Committee.

l. No member of a State Executive Committee, County Executive Committee (CEC), or State Convention Committee may vote on any issue for which the member is a registered lobbyist or has a substantial interest, as defined by the Local Government Code Title 5, Subtitle C, Section 171.002, with respect to the issue to be voted upon.

m. SREC Officials Committee Mediation of Disputes – County Chairmen or County Executive Committees may elect to submit disputes between them to the SREC Officials Committee for mediation in lieu of litigation. The SREC Officials Committee may elect to accept or decline the role of mediator on a case-by-case basis.

n. Elected Party Officials’ Misconduct in Office – A Precinct Chairman, County Chairman, or SREC member may deemed to be derelict in the execution of his or her responsibilities in office, by:

1. Failing to perform statutory duties; or

2. Failing to attend two (2) consecutive statutory Executive Committee Meetings; or

3. Embezzling County Executive Committee funds; or

4. Being convicted of election fraud; or

5. At least three other documented instances of sufficiently egregious conduct that the Republican Party in that county or Senatorial District is subjected to public disgrace; or

6. Knowingly and materially promoting, advocating, financing, or deriving benefit from any activity, enterprise, or organization that promotes terrorism as defined, without limitation, in 8 U.S.C. §1189 and Tex. Pen. Code §71.01(e) or is in direct and material conflict with or otherwise eroding the Legislative Priorities, or Principles of the Republican Party of Texas as defined in the Principles and Preamble of the Republican Party of Texas Platform. The Elected Party Official being reviewed must be notified at least seven (7) days in advance of any meeting concerning his or her sanction and must be offered the opportunity to present his or her own defense before a vote on sanction is taken. Regarding a Precinct or County Chairman, a written complaint signed by at least sixty percent (60%) of the voting membership of the County Executive Committee, or regarding an SREC member, a written complaint signed by at least sixty percent (60%) of the voting membership of the District Executive Committee, shall be forwarded to the Officials Committee of the SREC. If the Officials Committee finds the complaint has merit, the Officials Committee shall conduct a hearing on the conduct of the Precinct or County Chairman, or SREC member, and shall forward a recommendation to the State Chairman to pursue appropriate remedy.

o. All proposed disciplinary (including censure) actions by a County Executive Committee (CEC) that have continuing effect under these rules shall be in writing and shall be included by the Chairman on the agenda of the notice of meeting posted in compliance with the rules of the County Executive Committee. Upon receipt of a resolution regarding censure from a County Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas shall cause consideration of the resolution to be included on the agenda at the next scheduled meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC). Both bodies shall send the subject of the disciplinary action (including censure) notice by certified mail at the same time as the notice of meeting is posted.

p. The voting members of the County Executive Committee (CEC) are the County Chairman and Precinct Chairmen. An SREC member is a non-voting ex-officio member of the CEC of every county with territory in his or her district, without the right to make motions. This Rule shall not remove the SREC member’s right to vote or make motions in his or her home county if the SREC member is a precinct or county chairman in that county.

q. The County Executive Committee (CEC) shall have the authority, upon a majority vote, to require that the County Chairman include in writing in the regular committee reports of the CEC meeting specific information about the daily operation of the county party including, but not limited to, the details related to financial balances and expenditures from the county party’s general fund.

r. Every County Chairman in a county with a population over 20,000 shall call a County Executive Committee (CEC) meeting at least every quarter. Every County Chairman in a county with a population under 20,000 shall call a CEC meeting at least twice a year (i.e., at least once in both the first half and the second half of the year).

s. A person finally convicted of a felony under the Texas Penal Code is ineligible to serve as a County or District Executive Committee member, County Chairman, SREC member, or State Chairman until twenty (20) years have elapsed since completion of any incarceration, parole, or community supervision related to the offense. This restriction does not apply if the person has been declared innocent, the conviction has been vacated on appeal, or the person has been pardoned.

1. Upon presentation of a certified copy of a final conviction for an offense under the Texas Penal Code, the County Chairman (for a County or District Executive Committee member) or the State Chairman and the Secretary of the appropriate Executive Committee (for a County Chairman, SREC member, or State Party officer) shall promptly notify the affected individual, in writing, who then has ten (10) days to provide evidence that: (a) the conviction is not his or hers; or (b) he or she has been declared innocent; or (c) the conviction was vacated on appeal; or (d) he or she was pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities of the conviction; or (e) twenty (20) years have elapsed since successful completion of any period of incarceration, parole, or community supervision related to the offense.

2. If no evidence is timely provided establishing at least one of the above, then the office shall be declared vacant by the County Chairman or State Chairman, as appropriate, and filled in accordance with Texas law and these Rules.

3. This Rule does not affect eligibility for public office or prohibit a person from being a delegate or alternate to a convention.

Cited in: Voting members and SREC members, Powers and governing rules, Filling vacancies on the Executive Committee, Endorsements of local candidates, Voting by mail, email, online, and in person, Electronic meetings in an emergency, How often the Committee meets, Regular meetings, Organizational meeting, Meeting blackout periods, Notice and computing time, Temporary committees, Calling committee meetings, Committee membership and plurality elections, Open committee meetings, What an executive team is, Executive team directors and their limits, Authority of the Bylaws and the Election Code, Amending the Bylaws, Filing the adopted rules, Severability, Governing rules and defined terms, General duties of the County Chair, Staff and the Executive Director, Calling meetings and changing the agenda, County Chair on standing committees, Referral of the County Chair for removal, General duties of the Executive Committee, Censure of Republican officeholders, Vacancy in the office of County Chair, Precinct chair eligibility, Appointment to fill a precinct chair vacancy, Precinct chair loss of eligibility, Discipline of elected party officials, Secretary, Standing committees and who may serve, Committee attendance and reports, Rules Committee, Precinct Chair Recruitment and Vetting Committee, House District committee meetings, Amending the Standing Rules, Severability

Rule No. 8A – Petition Required for County Chairmen in Certain Counties

(Permanent State Executive Committee Rule) – Persons filing for the office of County Chairman in a county with a minimum of eight (8) incumbent precinct chairmen shall include a nominating petition containing the signatures of at least 10 percent of the incumbent precinct chairmen serving on the County Executive Committee, or two (2) – whichever is greater, using a form of promulgated by the Republican Party of Texas. The nominating petition shall contain the candidate’s sworn oath that each of the signatures thereon is of an incumbent precinct chairman and was signed in the presence of the candidate. Any county executive committee of a county with a population of fewer than 300,000 may, by majority vote, opt out of this requirement.

Cited in: General duties of the County Chair

Rule No. 9 – Executive Committee Quorum

a. Non-Statutory Business and Filling Vacancies – At County or District Executive Committee meetings, one-fourth (1/4) of the membership, excluding vacancies, shall constitute a quorum for conduct of non-statutory business. The SREC has designated one- fourth (1/4) of the membership, excluding vacancies, or such greater percentage, not to exceed a majority of the membership, as may be specified in County Executive Committee (CEC) Bylaws or Rules as the quorum for filling vacancies on County Executive Committees (Permanent State Executive Committee Rule). At SREC meetings, the quorum for conduct of non-statutory business shall be in accordance with the SREC Bylaws. If the quorum provided above is not present at any executive committee meeting, then only statutory business may be transacted at the meeting.

b. Statutory Business – At SREC, County, or District Executive Committee meetings, a quorum for conduct of statutory business shall consist of those members present. GENERAL RULES FOR ALL CONVENTIONS

Cited in: Filling vacancies on the Executive Committee, Quorum, Quorum, Appointment to fill a precinct chair vacancy

Rule No. 19 – Date, Time, and Place for Precinct Conventions (Permanent State Executive Committee Rule)

On or after the first Tuesday in March for each even numbered year, Precinct Conventions shall be held for each precinct at the date, time, and place designated by the County Executive Committee (CEC) or, in its failure to act, the County Chairman; provided that the place of such Convention shall be large enough to accommodate the expected number of participants and must meet the same requirements for access by the elderly and persons with physical disabilities as a polling place. If a County Executive Committee fails to allocate its precinct delegates or to send the precinct redistricting data to the Republican Party of Texas five (5) days prior to the Precinct Convention, then the Chairman of each Precinct Convention shall call the Convention to order, recess to the call of the Chairman, and immediately notify the Republican Party of Texas for further instructions.

Cited in: Conventions

Rule No. 21 – Agenda for Precinct Conventions

The agenda for each Precinct Convention shall include the following order of business in the order listed:

a. Call to order at the appointed hour by the Precinct Chairman or other participant if the Precinct Chairman is not present.

b. Preparation of a list of and announcement of number of qualified participants present.

c. Announcement of agenda and basic rules of procedure.

d. Election of the permanent officers of the convention by majority vote.

e. Announcement of County or District Convention and of temporary committee meetings, if known.

f. Resolutions.

g. Election of delegates and alternates to County or Senatorial District Convention, as the case may be, by majority vote, and certification of eligibility of each delegate and alternate by the Precinct Convention Secretary, where the primary voters list is available.

h. Other business.

i. Adjourn.

Cited in: Conventions

Rule No. 22 – Chairman’s Responsibilities

a. Written or Electronic Records – The Permanent Chairman of the Precinct Convention shall be responsible for seeing that an accurate written or electronic record is prepared of all convention proceedings, including:

1. The minutes of the Precinct Convention.

2. The list of participants and their residence addresses and towns.

3. The list of delegates and alternates elected to the County or Senatorial District Convention with residence addresses and towns.

4. All resolutions, whether adopted or not adopted.

b. Inspection of Records – The written record shall be signed by the Permanent Chairman of the Precinct Convention and made available for inspection and additional copying by any participant in the convention for a period of thirty (30) minutes immediately following adjournment of the convention. Upon request, the Permanent Chairman shall certify any correct copy with his or her signature.

c. Transmittal of Records – The Permanent Chairman of the Precinct Convention shall safely transmit to the County Chairman the written or electronic record of all convention proceedings, and one (1) copy of the same. Transmittal may be:

1. Electronic, delivered to the County Chairman’s electronic mail address or other website designated by the County Chairman for this purpose, not later than the third (3rd) day after the date of the Precinct Convention if not held on the same day or day immediately preceding the County or Senatorial District Convention. If the Precinct Convention is held on the same day or the day immediately preceding the County or Senatorial District Convention, the Permanent Chairman shall deliver the record not later than thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the County Convention.

2. By mail, deposited in the mail not later than the second (2nd) day after the date of the Precinct Convention if not held on the same day or day immediately preceding the County or Senatorial District Convention, or

3. In person, delivered not later than the third (3rd) day after the date of the Precinct Convention if not held on the same day or day immediately preceding the County or Senatorial District Convention. If the Precinct Convention is held on the same day or the day immediately preceding the County or Senatorial District Convention, the Permanent Chairman shall deliver the record not later than thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the County Convention. In counties that do not hold Precinct Conventions on the same day of, or the day immediately preceding, the County or Senatorial District Convention, and contain multiple Senatorial Districts, the County Chairman shall deliver the original records of each Precinct Convention to the Temporary Chairmen of the Senatorial District Conventions not later than the sixth (6th) day after the date of the Precinct Convention. The County Chairman shall deliver any records subsequently received from a Precinct Convention within two (2) business days after receipt.

d. Preservation of Records – The Permanent Chairman of the Precinct Convention shall preserve a copy of the written or electronic record, which is not a public record, until the end of the voting year. The County Chairman shall preserve a paper or electronic copy of the written records of each Precinct Convention until the end of the voting year. The copies are a public record and shall be available for inspection. The County Chairman shall schedule a reasonable time and place for review of the records to occur within seven (7) days of receipt of a written request. GENERAL RULES FOR COUNTY, SENATORIAL DISTRICT, AND STATE CONVENTIONS

Cited in: Precinct convention records

Rule No. 23A – Delegate Allocations and Entitlements

a. The delegate and alternate entitlements to the County or Senatorial District and State Conventions shall be based on the number of votes cast for the Party’s gubernatorial candidate in the most recent gubernatorial general election.

1. Each Precinct Convention shall be entitled to elect one delegate and one alternate to the County or Senatorial District Convention based on a ratio of one (1) for each twenty-five (25) votes and major fraction thereof within the boundaries of the voting precinct and further shown in more detail on the following table, provided that any Precinct Convention shall be entitled to elect at least one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate: Votes Delegates Alternates 0-37 1 1 38-62 2 2 63-87 3 3 88-112 4 4 113-137 5 5 etc. etc. etc.

2. Each County or Senatorial District Convention shall be entitled to elect one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate to the State Convention based on a ratio of one (1) for each 300 votes and major fraction thereof within the boundaries of the County or Senatorial District and further shown in more detail on the following table, provided that any County or Senatorial District Convention shall be entitled to elect at least two (2) delegates and two (2) alternates: Votes Delegates Alternates 0-750 2 2 751-1050 3 3 1051-1350 4 4 1351-1650 5 5 etc. etc. etc.

3. Each Precinct and County or Senatorial District Convention delegate and alternate delegate entitlement to the State Convention shall be increased or decreased proportionately among all delegations to achieve a State Convention potential delegate and alternate delegate roll of no less than 7,500 delegates and 7,500 alternate delegates and no more than 9,000 delegates and 9,000 alternate delegates to the State Convention.

b. At the option of the local County Executive Committee (in counties containing only one senatorial district), Senatorial District Executive Committee (in a district comprising only a part of a single county), or the precinct chairmen of the precincts residing in a particular senatorial district (for a county that is only partly situated in a senatorial district), by a two- thirds (2/3) vote of said committee, held not later than the date specified for the required drawing for a place on the general primary ballot, the delegate entitlement may be changed to a ratio of one (1) to forty (40) and major fraction thereof, or any ratio in between one (1) to twenty-five (25) and one (1) to forty (40), for that year only if said committee can justify among its peers that it is impractical due to size or availability of space to use the formula permitting the maximum number.

c. The delegate and alternate entitlement in a presidential election year for a County or Senatorial District Convention which includes more than one (1) Congressional District shall be apportioned among the Congressional Districts in the same manner they are apportioned to the County or Senatorial Districts, provided that the total delegate and alternate entitlement from the County or Senatorial District does not exceed that provided for in this Rule. If the calculation of delegate and alternate entitlements by Congressional District are different from the calculation of delegate and alternate entitlements by County or Senatorial District, the following guidelines shall be used in adjusting the total delegate/alternate entitlements:

1. The delegate and alternate totals shall not be greater than the delegate/alternate calculation for the County or Senatorial District except that any Congressional District shall be entitled to elect at least one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate which may cause the delegate/alternate entitlement for a County or Senatorial District to exceed the total entitlement for the County or Senatorial District by the number of delegates and alternates from one (1) or more Congressional Districts with less than enough votes to get an entitlement of greater than one (1) pursuant to Section a of this Rule, in a presidential election year;

2. Except as provided in Subsection 1 above, if the calculation for delegates and alternates by Congressional District should exceed the number of delegates and alternates by Senatorial District, then the delegate and alternate entitlement to the Congressional District shall be reduced beginning with the smallest fraction, then continuing to the next higher fraction until the calculations are equal;

3. If the calculation for delegates and alternates by Senatorial District should exceed the number of delegates and alternates by Congressional District, then the delegate and alternate entitlement to the Congressional District shall be increased beginning with the highest fraction, then continuing to the next lower fraction until the calculations are equal;

4. In a presidential election year, each delegate and each alternate shall have credentials for both the Senatorial District and the Congressional District Caucuses and if a delegate or alternate is not credentialed for both, the delegate or alternate shall not be credentialed for either.

d. In the event of boundary changes among precincts or districts, or the creation or deletion of precincts or districts since the most recent gubernatorial election, the following rules shall govern the allocation of gubernatorial votes to the changed or newly created precincts or districts.

1. The apportionment of gubernatorial votes to the newly created or changed precincts or districts shall be made using any fair and equitable method for making such determination.

2. The County Executive Committee shall apportion to each precinct the number of votes to be used in allocating the number of delegates and alternates which may be elected by such precincts using any fair and equitable method for making the determination.

3. When the boundaries of a Senatorial District or Congressional District have changed or a new district formed causing a boundary change in an election precinct, the apportionment of gubernatorial votes to each precinct shall be used in allocating the number of delegates to be elected in each affected district.

4. If the County Executive Committee fails to act before the last day of candidate filing for a place on the General Primary ballot for public office, the SREC shall make such apportionment of the gubernatorial vote to precincts.

e. The Permanent Convention Chairman of the County Convention or Senatorial District Convention shall send Notice of Election to every Delegate and Alternate to the State Convention. If the Delegate or Alternate provided his or her electronic mail address on the Convention roster, Notice of Election may be by electronic mail, but if no electronic mail address was provided, then the Notice of Election must be mailed to the address on the Delegate or Alternate Exhibit List.

Cited in: Conventions, Senate district caucuses

Rule No. 27A – Date, Time, and Place for County and Senatorial District Conventions (Permanent State Executive Committee Rule)

County and Senatorial District Conventions shall be held on the fourth Saturday in March. However, if that date occurs during Passover or on the day following Good Friday, the conventions shall be held on the next Saturday that does not occur during Passover or is not the day following Good Friday. The County Executive Committee in each county shall set the hour and place for convening County and Senatorial District Conventions in that county.

Cited in: Conventions

Rule No. 28 – Conventions in County with Multiple Senatorial Districts

If a county is situated in more than one state Senatorial District, instead of a County Convention, a Senatorial District Convention shall be held in each part of the county that is situated in a different Senatorial District, provided, however, that shared facilities may be utilized for separate Senatorial District Conventions that may be held outside the geographical boundaries of the Senatorial District, if party interests and public accessibility will be served as determined by a caucus of precinct chairmen in each affected Senatorial District within the county not later than the date on which drawing for a position on the primary ballot is conducted. A meeting for this purpose shall have been called by written notice to each precinct chairman in each respective Senatorial District within the county from the County Chairman not later than ten (10) days prior to the meeting.

Cited in: Conventions, Senate district caucuses

Rule No. 29 – County or Senatorial District Convention Committees

a. The County Chairman is the Temporary Chairman of a County Convention. If a Senatorial district is situated in more than one county or the Senatorial District is completely within but does not include the entire county, the Temporary Chairman shall be elected by the caucus of the Senatorial District Executive Committee at a properly called County Executive Committee (CEC) Meeting. The list of County Executive Committee members that will be caucusing with their Senatorial District for selection of Temporary Senatorial District Convention Chairman shall be updated within seven (7) business days before this meeting and enforced by the County Sergeant-at-Arms.

b. Prior to each County or Senatorial District Convention, the Temporary Chairman shall appoint the following committees and name the chairmen and members thereof before the temporary committees convene, provided that all members shall be delegates, and if the Convention has at least seventy-five (75) delegates, then each such committee shall be composed of at least five (5) and not more than fifteen (15) delegates. If the Convention has at least twenty-five (25) but less than seventy-five (75) delegates, then each committee must be composed of at least three (3) delegates. The list of committee members shall be published in a manner accessible to delegates and once published shall not increase in number unless it falls below the minimum in which case it shall be brought back to no more than the minimum. If the Convention has less than twenty-five (25) delegates, then the Temporary Chairman has discretion as to committee size. The committees and their duties shall be as follows:

1. Credentials: This committee shall hear any contest concerning delegates and shall recommend the Permanent Roll of the Convention.

2. Rules: This committee shall recommend the Supplemental Rules for the Convention.

3. Permanent Organization: This committee shall recommend permanent officers of the convention from among the delegates present.

4. Resolutions: This committee shall conduct preliminary deliberations for the purpose of making recommendations to the Permanent Resolutions Committee.

5. Nominations: This committee shall conduct preliminary deliberations for the purpose of making recommendations to the Permanent Nominations Committee.

6. Legislative Priorities: This committee shall conduct preliminary deliberations for the purpose of making recommendations to the Permanent Legislative Priorities Committee. At the discretion of the Temporary Convention Chairman, the Legislative Priorities Committee may be combined with the Resolutions Committee.

c. The Temporary Convention Chairman of a convention with at least ten (10) delegates present shall make available at the Chairman’s podium, at the start of the Convention, no fewer than five (5) printed copies of the Temporary Rules Committee report, no fewer than five (5) printed copies of the Temporary Resolutions Committee report, and no fewer than five (5) printed copies of the Legislative Priorities Committee report and shall announce they may be inspected by any delegate or alternate to the Convention.

d. Immediately upon the election of the Permanent Convention Chairman, the permanent committees shall be chosen according to the convention supplementary rules or appointed by the Permanent Convention Chairman if the rules do not specify any method. The committee members shall be from among the delegates, whose duties shall be as stated below, and the chairmen thereof, provided that if the Convention has at least seventy-five (75) delegates, then each such committee shall be composed of at least five (5) and not more than fifteen (15) delegates. If the Convention has at least twenty-five (25) but less than seventy-five (75) delegates, then each committee must be composed of at least three (3) delegates. If the Convention has less than twenty-five (25) delegates, then the Permanent Chairman has discretion as to committee size. The committees and their duties shall be as follows:

1. Nominations: This committee shall present nominations for delegates and alternates to the State Convention, after considering the recommendations of the Temporary Nominations Committee.

2. Resolutions: This committee shall recommend resolutions to the Convention, after considering the recommendations of the Temporary Resolutions Committee.

3. Legislative Priorities: This committee shall make recommendations of no less than one (1) and no more than fifteen (15) Legislative Priorities to the Convention, after considering the recommendations from the Temporary Legislative Priorities Committee.

Cited in: Senate district caucuses

Rule No. 34 – Permanent Committees and Composition

At each biennial State Convention, the membership of each permanent committee listed below shall be composed of one (1) delegate from each Senatorial District, to be elected by caucus of the delegates in each such district, plus the Chairman thereof, to be appointed by the Permanent Convention Chairman. If there is a temporary committee specified in these Rules corresponding to a permanent committee in this Rule, the scope of the permanent committee is not limited to what was considered by, voted upon, or recommended by the temporary committee counterpart. Such permanent committees shall be as follows:

a. Credentials: This committee shall continue to add registered delegates and alternates to the Permanent Roll throughout the convention. This committee shall also address contests and challenges until the Permanent Credentials Committee has adjourned sine die.

b. Rules and Order of Business: This committee shall recommend to the Convention the Supplementary Rules of the Convention, any amendments to these General Rules, and the Order of Business.

c. Legislative Priorities: This committee shall recommend to the Convention proposed legislative priorities and related resolutions. The Legislative Priorities Committee of the biennial State Convention shall prepare a list of no more than fifteen (15) resolutions, each of which must be germane and include, but not be limited to, at least one plank from the current or proposed Platform, for the Republican Party of Texas State Convention to consider as priority planks for legislation for the session of the Texas Legislature following the Convention. The State Convention will vote “Yes,” “No,” or “Abstain” for each of the fifteen (15). The top half, rounded up, shall become the Republican Party of Texas Legislative Priorities for the session of the Texas Legislature following the Convention. Legislative Priorities shall be for specific changes, additions to or deletions from the law that directly support the Platform and the core values of the Republican Party of Texas. The SREC shall expend reasonable Party resources to promote passage of legislation crafted in support of these priorities. No one may add to or edit the Legislative Priorities after State Convention adjourns sine die.

d. Platform and Resolutions: This committee shall recommend to the Convention the platform and resolutions. The Platform and Resolutions Committee of the biennial State Convention shall also prepare a list of no less than ten (10) and no more than twenty (20) Principles to be included in the Preamble of the Platform of the Republican Party of Texas for consideration by the delegates of the biennial State Convention.

e. State Nominations: This committee shall report to the Convention nominations for the state positions to be filled by the Convention.

f. State Grammar, Spelling, Formatting, and Punctuation Committee: The Permanent Convention Chairman shall appoint a Grammar, Spelling, Formatting, and Punctuation Committee of qualified delegates who shall meet during the consideration of the reports on the floor of the Convention for the purpose of reviewing non-substantive grammar, spelling, formatting, and punctuation of the language included in the reports and shall incorporate the necessary corrections. Upon completion of its work, the Committee will report back to the Convention Chairman with its revisions for vote by the Convention. The Committee, Republican Party of Texas staff, and the Convention Secretary may add tables of contents and indices to committee reports, including after adjournment of the Convention.

Cited in: Censure of Republican officeholders, Legislative and Political Priorities Committee

Rule No. 43A – Platform and Principles

The Platform Committee of the biennial State Convention shall prepare a list of no less than ten (10) and no more than twenty (20) principles included in the Preamble of the Platform of the Republican Party of Texas which clearly defines the Party’s values, with the knowledge and purpose that they be used to identify candidate values as stated in Rule No. 43. A candidate must return the candidate’s completed Platform Review and the completed Candidate Resource Committee (CRC) funding application to be eligible to receive funds from the CRC of the SREC.

Cited in: Censure of Republican officeholders, Precinct Chair Recruitment and Vetting Committee

Rule No. 44 – Censure Process and Penalties

a. Process: A County or District Executive Committee may, after no less than seven (7) days’ notice and invitation to the Officeholder to appear and be provided time to speak before a County or District Executive Committee, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those constituent Executive Committee Precinct Chairmen present and voting, but in no case by less than a majority of constituent Precinct Chairmen of the County Executive Committee (CEC) in full, adopt a resolution censuring a Republican public Officeholder representing all or a portion of that County or District for three (3) or more actions taken during the Officeholder’s current term in opposition to the core principles of the Republican Party of Texas defined in the Preamble of the Party Platform as described in Rule No. 43A or to the Legislative Priorities adopted at the most recent State Convention as described in Rule No. 34(c). Any resolution of censure that does not meet those criteria shall be subject to challenge by a point of order. Resolution Content: Such a resolution may include a request to the SREC to impose the penalties below. The SREC must confirm or deny penalties prior to early voting of the Republican Primary Election in which the Officeholder is seeking election. Penalties: If such a request is included, after not less than fourteen (14) days’ notice and opportunity to the Officeholder to appear and be provided time to speak before the SREC in response to the request. The SREC, by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of the full membership, may vote to concur with the resolution of censure and impose one or more of the following penalties: Penalty 1: Declare that no Rule or Bylaw enacted by any division of the Party at any level that demands the Party be neutral in intraparty contests shall be observed with respect to the named Officeholder, and no financial or other support shall be provided to the Officeholder’s campaign by the Party except that which is required by law. If the Officeholder files an application to run for any public office in the Republican Party Primary Election following the censure resolution’s passage, the SREC shall be authorized to spend up to twelve percent (12%) of the Party’s general fund on voter education in the Officeholder’s district, opposing the censured Officeholder or supporting an opponent, in a manner and using a media format determined by the SREC. Penalty 2: Declare that the named Officeholder is discouraged from participating in the Republican Party Primary Election following the censure passage. Penalty 3: Authorize and direct the State Chairman or any County Chairman to refuse to accept any application for a place on the ballot of a Republican Primary Election for a period of twenty-four (24) months following adoption of the censure and imposition of said remedy.

b. Any County Chairman or County Executive Committee member who applies the provisions of Rule No. 44 and thereby becomes the subject of a lawsuit for doing so shall be indemnified by the Republican Party of Texas, who shall provide counsel to the County Chairman or County Executive Committee member or pay for any expenses incurred related to any suit. The State Chairman shall defend in court any suit against the Party arising from the application of Rule No. 44.

c. The biennial State Convention may censure statewide elected officials. Resolutions for censure shall originate at a County or Senatorial District Convention. County or Senatorial District Convention resolutions for censure shall be delivered to the State Chairman, who shall deliver the censure to the Chairman of the Temporary Platform and Resolutions Committee and shall provide notice of censure and invitation to the censured Officeholder to appear. The Platform and Resolutions Committee shall determine whether or not to send the censure to the Convention for a vote. Rule No. 24 shall apply to any minority report. Any elected Officeholder censured at the State Convention held after the Primary Election in which that Officeholder is on the General Election ballot may not incur penalties in this Rule. Potential penalties listed in Section a above apply to this Section c.

d. Any above penalty imposed shall expire on the day following the date of the Primary Runoff Election in which the Officeholder would be up for reelection. The term “Officeholder” as used in this Rule shall mean a holder of public office. Nothing within this Rule shall be construed to authorize the removal of a public Officeholder; and likewise, nothing within this Rule shall serve to limit the removal of any public Officeholder under other rule or law.

e. The Republican Party of Texas shall publish on its website (https://www.texasgop.org) a list of all individuals who have been censured under this Rule or by a State Convention in the twenty-four (24) months prior to the start of the filing period. The list must include the penalties applied, if any, and a copy of the censure resolution. During the filing period, the Republican Party of Texas shall note on its website any eligible candidate who has been censured under this Rule by the SREC or by a State Convention in the preceding twenty- four (24) months. Any County Executive Committee (CEC), County Convention, or Senatorial District Convention may originate a censure resolution against the Speaker of the Texas House.

Cited in: Censure of Republican officeholders

Rule No. 8 – State Executive Committee and County Executive Committee – Organization

a. Compliance Required – The SREC, each county executive committee, each district executive committee, and any committee or subcommittee created by any Bylaws or Rules adopted by same, shall comply with and be established in accordance with these Rules.

b. Supplemental Rules Permitted – The SREC elected at the biennial State Convention or a county executive committee elected in a biennial primary election or a district executive committee created pursuant to the bylaws of any political subdivision within the Party, may adopt supplemental rules or bylaws, provided however that such rules or bylaws do not conflict with any rules or bylaws of a higher authority including, but not limited to, these Rules. All such rules and bylaws shall be filed with the SREC and with the Secretary of State and are hereby adopted by reference.

c. Organizational Meeting and First Quarterly Meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee – The SREC shall hold its organizational meeting after the adjournment of the biennial State Convention. The agenda of the organizational meeting shall include, but not be limited to the adoption of Bylaws or Rules for the biennium. Upon the adoption of the SREC Bylaws or Rules by the SREC, at the SREC organizational meeting, the SREC Bylaws and Rules shall be amendable at this meeting and the first quarterly meeting by a majority of the entire membership.

d. The SREC Bylaws may only be amendable by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full body for any SREC meeting following the first quarterly meeting subject only to adopted notice requirements.

e. Organizational Meeting of a County Executive Committee (CEC) – A County Executive Committee shall hold its organizational meeting within forty-five (45) days after the term of office begins for the County Chairman and the Precinct Chairmen. (The term of office begins twenty (20) days after the Primary Runoff Election.) The County Chairman of the incoming term shall be responsible for calling the meeting; however, if the County Chairman does not call the meeting within the forty-five (45) days, then one-fourth (1/4) or fifty (50) of the Precinct Chairmen, whichever is fewer, may, by written demand, call an organizational meeting. Notice of the organizational meeting and a copy of any proposed Bylaws or Rules shall either be mailed via the USPS or emailed, but only if the precinct chair’s email address is known, and be posted on the county party website, if available. The notice and any Bylaws or Rules may be sent prior to the end of the previous term. Delivery will be to the last known address of the members of the executive committee at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting. Such notice shall state the time, date, and location of the meeting and the names(s) of the person(s) issuing the call. The agenda of the organizational meeting shall include, but not be limited to, the swearing in of the newly elected executive committee members and the adoption of Bylaws or Rules for the biennium. Failure to adopt Bylaws or Rules for the current biennium by a majority of those present and voting shall enact the previous biennium’s Bylaws or Rules.

f. Limitations on County Executive Committee (CEC) Meetings – No County Executive Committee meeting shall be held two (2) days prior, during, or two (2) days after the week of the biennial State Convention or during any calendar week in which committee meetings or general sessions of the quadrennial National Convention are scheduled. Once a County Executive Committee meeting has been properly noticed in accordance with these Rules and the Rules or Bylaws of the County Executive Committee, no other County Executive Committee meeting of any type, other than for statutory business, shall be held during the period that runs from two (2) days prior to two (2) days after the scheduled County Executive Committee meeting.

g. Open Meetings and Right to Testify – All meetings of any State or County Executive Committee (CEC) or its committees, subcommittees, or ad hoc committees shall be open to any member of that executive committee, and they shall have the right to appear before any such committee, subcommittee, or ad hoc committee and make recommendations for the committee’s consideration or testify concerning any item under purview of the committee and to record or livestream with electronic devices the proceedings of any meeting not held in executive session. The committee may adopt reasonable rules including time limits for such presentations and may establish a reasonable limit of time for these presentations. This Rule does not preclude the committee from going into executive session; however, such executive session(s) shall be open to any member of the executive committee including ex-officio members.

h. The County Chairman shall maintain a current list of the name, mailing address, phone number, email address (if available), and precinct number of every Republican Precinct Chair who was elected in the Primary, the Primary Runoff, or was appointed by the County Executive Committee (CEC) to fill a Precinct Chair vacancy. The list shall be updated within seven (7) business days of an election changing the status of the list and shall be made available at reproduction costs or by email to any Republican Precinct Chair, Republican Party Official, Republican Elected Officeholder, or Republican Candidate for Elective Office of the county requesting such.

i. Filling Vacancies on a County Executive Committee (Permanent State Executive Committee Rule) – A County Executive Committee (CEC) shall, by majority vote at its organizational meeting, adopt a Bylaw or Rule for filling vacancies on the County Executive Committee.

j. Permit Electronic Executive Committee Meetings – In the event of a stated emergency, as declared by the Chairman, an Executive Committee Meeting may be conducted through use of electronic meeting services designated by the Chairman. In the event an Executive Committee Meeting is held electronically, the electronic meeting must allow for the real- time sharing and viewing of committee documents, including the current motion, any amendments to that motion, and any reports that the Committee considers.

k. Removal of County Chairman for Abandonment of Office or Ineligibility – If the County Executive Committee (CEC), by a majority vote of the full body, finds that a County Chairman has failed to perform his or her duties or is no longer eligible for office, the CEC shall send a resolution and supporting documentation to the SREC Officials Committee to begin an official review for remedy. Nothing in this rule prohibits any person affiliated with the Republican Party of Texas from causing a resolution to be considered by the State Republican Executive Committee. The County Chairman being reviewed must be notified at least seven (7) days in advance of any meeting concerning his or her removal and must be offered the opportunity to present his or her own defense before a vote on removal is taken.

l. No member of a State Executive Committee, County Executive Committee (CEC), or State Convention Committee may vote on any issue for which the member is a registered lobbyist or has a substantial interest, as defined by the Local Government Code Title 5, Subtitle C, Section 171.002, with respect to the issue to be voted upon.

m. SREC Officials Committee Mediation of Disputes – County Chairmen or County Executive Committees may elect to submit disputes between them to the SREC Officials Committee for mediation in lieu of litigation. The SREC Officials Committee may elect to accept or decline the role of mediator on a case-by-case basis.

n. Elected Party Officials’ Misconduct in Office – A Precinct Chair, County Chairman, or SREC member may deemed to be derelict in the execution of his or her responsibilities in office, by:

1. Failing to perform statutory duties; or

2. Failing to attend two (2) consecutive statutory Executive Committee Meetings; or

3. Embezzling County Executive Committee funds; or

4. Being convicted of election fraud; or

5. At least three other documented instances of sufficiently egregious conduct that the Republican Party in that county or Senatorial District is subjected to public disgrace. The Elected Party Official being reviewed must be notified at least seven (7) days in advance of any meeting concerning his or her sanction and must be offered the opportunity to present his or her own defense before a vote on sanction is taken. Regarding a Precinct or County Chairman, a written complaint signed by at least sixty percent (60%) of the voting membership of the County Executive Committee, or regarding an SREC member, a written complaint signed by at least sixty percent (60%) of the voting membership of the District Executive Committee, shall be forwarded to the Officials Committee of the SREC. If the Officials Committee finds the complaint has merit, the Officials Committee shall conduct a hearing on the conduct of the Precinct or County Chairman, or SREC member, and shall forward a recommendation to the State Chairman to pursue appropriate remedy.

o. All proposed disciplinary (including censure) actions by a County Executive Committee (CEC) that have continuing effect under these rules shall be in writing and shall be included by the Chairman on the agenda of the notice of meeting posted in compliance with the rules of the County Executive Committee. Upon receipt of a resolution regarding censure from a County Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas shall cause consideration of the resolution to be included on the agenda at the next scheduled meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC). Both bodies shall send the subject of the disciplinary action (including censure) notice by certified mail at the same time as the notice of meeting is posted.

p. The voting members of the County Executive Committee (CEC) are the County Chairman and Precinct Chairmen. An SREC member is a non-voting ex-officio member of the CEC of every county with territory in his or her district, without the right to make motions. This rule shall not remove the SREC member’s right to vote or make motions in his or her home county if the SREC member is a precinct or county chairman in that county.

q. The County Executive Committee (CEC) shall have the authority, upon a majority vote, to require that the County Chairman include in writing in the regular committee reports of the CEC meeting specific information about the daily operation of the county party including, but not limited to, the details related to financial balances and expenditures from the county party's general fund.

r. Every County Chairman in a county with a population over 20,000 shall call a County Executive Committee (CEC) meeting at least every quarter. Every County Chairman in a county with a population under 20,000 shall call a CEC meeting at least twice a year (i.e., at least once in both the first half and the second half of the year).

Cited in: Filing the adopted rules

Rule No. 43 – Candidate Platform and Legislative Priorities Review

The Republican Party of Texas shall make an electronic copy of the most recent Platform and Legislative Priorities available on its website. The County or State Chairman shall distribute either an electronic or a paper copy of the Platform and Legislative Priorities to each candidate along with all other candidate application papers. The County or State Chairman shall request each candidate to indicate whether the candidate agrees, disagrees, or is undecided for each bullet point item of the Party Principles included in the Preamble of the Platform and may include comments if desired. The County or State Chairman shall also request that each candidate read the entire Platform and Legislative Priorities and indicate at least ten (10) line items from the Platform that the candidate strongly supports. All candidates for offices should file the completed Platform and Legislative Priorities Review containing the candidate’s responses at the time of filing for office. Candidates’ responses shall be collected and recorded by the filing entity and may be published on the filing entity’s website prior to the primary. If the filing entity has no website, a copy of the candidate’s responses may be received from the filing entity. At the discretion of the Executive Committee of the filing entity, a candidate’s response may be excluded from posting to the website of the filing entity. This rule shall not apply to judicial candidates.

Cited in: Election of precinct chairs, Appointment to fill a precinct chair vacancy, Precinct Chair Recruitment and Vetting Committee

Sec. 171.002. SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN BUSINESS ENTITY.

Official text

(a) For purposes of this chapter, a person has a substantial interest in a business entity if:

(1) the person owns 10 percent or more of the voting stock or shares of the business entity or owns either 10 percent or more or $15,000 or more of the fair market value of the business entity; or

(2) funds received by the person from the business entity exceed 10 percent of the person's gross income for the previous year.

(b) A person has a substantial interest in real property if the interest is an equitable or legal ownership with a fair market value of $2,500 or more.

(c) A local public official is considered to have a substantial interest under this section if a person related to the official in the first degree by consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code, has a substantial interest under this section.

Cited in: Voting by mail, email, online, and in person, Staff and the Executive Director