TITLE 1. ADMINISTRATION

PART 2. TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION

CHAPTER 7. CONTRACTS

The Texas Ethics Commission (the TEC) adopts new Chapter 7 in the TEC Rules, regarding Contracts. These new rules are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the February 27, 2026, issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 1223). The rules will not be republished.

Specifically, the Texas Ethics Commission (the TEC) adopts new Texas Ethics Commission Rules in Chapter 7 (relating to Contracts). The TEC adopts these new rules to codify Vendor Protest Procedures, Vendor Protest Procedures for Vendor Performance Reports, Contract Monitoring, Enhanced Contract Monitoring and Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) Procedures, including §7.1 regarding Application, §7.3 regarding Definitions, §7.5 regarding Vendor Protest Procedures, §7.7 regarding Contract Monitoring, §7.9 regarding Enhanced Contract Monitoring, and §7.11 Veteran heroes United in Businesses (VetHUB), §7.55 regarding Vendor Protest Procedures for Vendor Performance Reports,.

State law requires state agencies to "review and consider for readoption each of its rules … not later than the fourth anniversary of the date on which the rule takes effect and every four years after that date." Tex. Gov't Code §2001.039. The law further requires agencies to "readopt, readopt with amendments, or repeal a rule as the result of reviewing the rule under this section." Id.

The TEC is continuing its comprehensive review with the addition of Chapter 7, regarding Contracts. The addition of these rules seeks to provide clarity on the Commission's contract policies.

The TEC did not receive any public comments on these new rules.

The new rules are adopted under Texas Government Code §571.062, which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules to administer Title 15 of the Election Code and Chapter 571 of the Government Code.

The adopted rules affect Chapter 571 of the Government Code.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 18, 2026.

TRD-202602078

Amanda Arriaga

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Effective date: June 7, 2026

Proposal publication date: February 27, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800

CHAPTER 26. POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE ADVERTISING

The Texas Ethics Commission (the TEC) adopts an amendment to Texas Ethics Commission Rules in Chapter 26 (relating to Political and Legislative Advertising). Specifically, the TEC adopts an amendment to §26.1 regarding Disclosure Statement. This amended rule is adopted with changes to the proposed text as published in the April 3, 2026, issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 2161). The rule will be republished.

The changes are to §26.1(c)(4)(B) and §26.1(d), both of which are changing “Subsection” to “subsection” and adding “of this section”.

State law requires state agencies to "review and consider for readoption each of its rules … not later than the fourth anniversary of the date on which the rule takes effect and every four years after that date." Tex. Gov't Code §2001.039. The law further requires agencies to "readopt, readopt with amendments, or repeal a rule as the result of reviewing the rule under this section." Id.

The TEC is continuing its comprehensive review with a review of the TEC's rules regarding political and legislative advertising, which are codified in Chapter 26.

The TEC did not receive any public comments on this amended rule.

The amended rule is adopted under Texas Government Code §571.062, which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules to administer Title 15 of the Election Code and Chapter 571 of the Government Code.

The adopted amended rule affects Chapter 255 of the Election Code.

§26.1. Disclosure Statement.

(a) A disclosure statement that is required by §255.001, Election Code must:

(1) appear on one line of text or on successive lines of text on the face of the political advertising; or

(2) be clearly spoken in the political advertising if the political advertising does not include written text.

(b) A disclosure statement is not required on political advertising printed on letterhead stationery if the letterhead contains the full name of one of the following:

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

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

(3) the candidate authorizing the political advertising.

(c) A disclosure statement is not required on:

(1) campaign buttons, pins, or hats, or on objects whose size makes printing the disclosure impractical;

(2) political advertising posted or re-posted on an Internet website, as long as the person posting or re-posting the political advertising:

(A) is not an officeholder, candidate, or political committee;

(B) did not make an expenditure exceeding $100 in a reporting period for political advertising beyond the basic cost of hardware messaging software and bandwidth; and

(C) did not post or re-post the political advertising in return for consideration.

(3) the Internet social media profile webpage of a candidate or officeholder, provided the webpage clearly and conspicuously displays the full name of the candidate or officeholder; or

(4) political advertising posted or re-posted by a person on an Internet website, provided the advertising is posted with a link to a publicly viewable Internet webpage that:

(A) contains the disclosure statement; or

(B) is exempt from containing the disclosure statement under subsection (c)(3) of this section.

(d) For the purposes of subsection (c) of this section, an "Internet social media profile webpage" is an Internet webpage on a website where members of the public may, for no charge, connect electronically with other members of the public and share text, images, videos, and similar forms of communications.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 18, 2026.

TRD-202602091

Amanda Arriaga

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Effective date: June 7, 2026

Proposal publication date: April 3, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800

The Texas Ethics Commission (the TEC) adopts amendments to Texas Ethics Commission Rules in Chapter 26 (relating to Political and Legislative Advertising). Specifically, the TEC adopts amendments to §26.2 regarding Newsletter of Public Officer of a Political Subdivision and §26.3 regarding Legislative Advertising. These amended rules are adopted with changes to §26.2 and without changes to §26.3 of the proposed text as published in the February 27, 2026, issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 1225). Section 26.2 will be republished with changes; §26.3, without changes, will not be republished.

State law requires state agencies to "review and consider for readoption each of its rules … not later than the fourth anniversary of the date on which the rule takes effect and every four years after that date." Tex. Gov't Code §2001.039. The law further requires agencies to "readopt, readopt with amendments, or repeal a rule as the result of reviewing the rule under this section." Id.

The TEC is continuing its comprehensive review with a review of the TEC's rules regarding political and legislative advertising, which are codified in Chapter 26.

The TEC did not receive any public comments on these amended rules.

The only change is to correct a typographical error in Rule 26.2(4) to change 60 days to 62 days.

The amended rules are adopted under Texas Government Code §571.062, which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules to administer Title 15 of the Election Code and Chapter 571 of the Government Code.

The adopted amended rules affect Chapter 255 of the Election Code.

§26.2. Newsletter of Public Officer of a Political Subdivision.

For purposes of §255.003 of the Election Code, a newsletter of a public officer of a political subdivision is not political advertising if:

(1) It includes no more than two pictures of a public officer per page and if the total amount of area covered by the pictures is no more than 20 percent of the page on which the pictures appear;

(2) It includes no more than eight personally phrased references (such as the public officer's name, "I", "me", "the city council member") on a page that is 8 ½" x 11" or larger, with a reasonable reduction in the number of such personally phrased references in pages smaller than 8 ½" x 11";

(3) When viewed as a whole and in the proper context:

(A) is informational rather than self-promotional;

(B) does not advocate passage or defeat of a measure; and

(C) does not support or oppose a candidate for nomination or election to a public office or office of political party, a political party, or a public officer; and

(4) Is published more than 62 days before the election.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 18, 2026.

TRD-202602092

Amanda Arriaga

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Effective date: June 7, 2026

Proposal publication date: February 27, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800

CHAPTER 34. REGULATION OF LOBBYISTS

The Texas Ethics Commission (the TEC) adopts amendments to Texas Ethics Commission Rules in Chapter 34 (relating to Regulation of Lobbyists). These amended rules are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the February 27, 2026, issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 1225). The rules will not be republished.

Specifically, the TEC adopts an amendment in Subchapter A of Chapter 34 (regarding General Provisions), including §34.1 regarding Definitions.

The TEC also adopts amendments rules in Subchapter B of Chapter 34 (relating to Registration Required), including §34.41 regarding Expenditure Threshold and §34.43 regarding Compensation and Reimbursement Threshold.

State law requires state agencies to "review and consider for readoption each of its rules … not later than the fourth anniversary of the date on which the rule takes effect and every four years after that date." Tex. Gov't Code §2001.039. The law further requires agencies to "readopt, readopt with amendments, or repeal a rule as the result of reviewing the rule under this section." Id.

The TEC is continuing its comprehensive review with a review of the TEC's rules regarding regulation of lobbyists, which are codified in Chapter 34. These amendments seek to shorten, simplify, and reorganize the rules to eliminate surplusage and improve clarity on these restrictions.

The Commission received public comments from the Professional Advocacy Association of Texas (PAAT) after these rules were adopted by the Commission. PAAT supported the proposed changes to sections 34.41 and 34.43, stating that "PAAT members have supported a practical approach to registration and full disclosure" for many years. PAAT also suggested the repeal of section 34.5(b) regarding the exclusion of certain compensation from the registration threshold for certain communications. The Commission will review this request and may consider this repeal at a future date.

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

The amended rules are adopted under Texas Government Code §571.062, which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules to administer Chapter 305 of the Government Code.

The adopted amended rules affect Chapter 305 of the Government Code.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 18, 2026.

TRD-202602085

Amanda Arriaga

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Effective date: June 7, 2026

Proposal publication date: February 27, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800

SUBCHAPTER B. REGISTRATION REQUIRED

The amended rules are adopted under Texas Government Code §571.062, which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules to administer Chapter 305 of the Government Code.

The adopted rules affect chapter 305 of the Government Code.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 18, 2026.

TRD-202602086

Amanda Arriaga

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Effective date: June 7, 2026

Proposal publication date: February 27, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800

CHAPTER 45. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The Texas Ethics Commission (the TEC) adopts an amendment and new rule in Texas Ethics Commission Rules in Chapter 45 (relating to Conflicts of Interest). Specifically, the TEC adopts an amendment to §45.3 regarding Definitions and new §45.8 regarding Additional Disclosures for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. These amended and new rules are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the February 27, 2026, issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 1227). The rules will not be republished.

This adoption amends the rules regarding the additional disclosures for the Texas Comptroller.

State law requires state agencies to "review and consider for readoption each of its rules … not later than the fourth anniversary of the date on which the rule takes effect and every four years after that date." Tex. Gov't Code §2001.039. The law further requires agencies to "readopt, readopt with amendments, or repeal a rule as the result of reviewing the rule under this section." Id.

The TEC is continuing its comprehensive review with a review of the TEC's rules regarding conflicts of interest, which are codified in Chapter 45. These amendments seek to provide clarity to cross reference with 1 Texas Administrative Code §20.220.

The Commission did not receive any public comments on these amended and new rules.

The amended and new rules are adopted under Texas Government Code §571.062, which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules to administer Title 15 of the Election Code and Chapter 571 of the Government Code.

The adopted amended and new rules affect Section 2155.003 of the Government Code and 1 Texas Administrative Code §20.220.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 18, 2026.

TRD-202602083

Amanda Arriaga

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Effective date: June 7, 2026

Proposal publication date: February 27, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800