SB 2742 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the enforcement of electioneering prohibitions and the unlawful use of public funds for political advertising; imposing civil penalties.

SB 2742 prohibits school districts and local governments from using public funds for political advertising or electioneering. It directly affects school boards and political subdivisions (like cities or counties) that might use taxpayer money to support or oppose candidates, measures, or political parties. The bill imposes civil fines of $1,000-$1,500 per day for violations, with each day of continued violation counted separately. The Texas Attorney General can enforce these penalties through lawsuits in Travis County or the affected county, and officials cannot claim immunity or seek indemnification for violations.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 13, 2025 Last action May 2, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 2 edits · Apr 30, 2025
MINOR
The bill was reformatted from a draft introduction to an engrossed version with minor text cleanup. The substantive policy content regarding electioneering prohibitions and civil penalties for political advertising remains unchanged from the original draft.
TECHNICAL

Removed draft formatting markers and placeholder text while preserving all legislative content.

Standardized bill header information and section numbering for final passage.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2025

How they voted

2010
Passed
Total votes 30
Apr 29, 2025
D Democratic10
1 Yea 9 Nay
90% Nay
R Republican20
19 Yea 1 Nay
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
6
Committee
6
May 2, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
lower
May 2, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
May 1, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (20-10)
senate
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Brent Hagenbuch
Brent Hagenbuch
RRepublican
TX
30