Filing Reports for TEC Filers
Individual/Entity Making Direct Campaign Expenditures

Filing a Campaign Finance Report

A person not acting in concert with another person who makes one or more direct campaign expenditures (DCE) in an election from the person’s own property that exceed $160 is required to file a report with the Texas Ethics Commission to disclose the expenditure/s, in accordance with section 254.261 of the Election Code. A person includes an individual or an entity. You are a filer type DCE.

If you are a Political Committee (a group of persons), you do not file this type of report. See Filing Reports ▾ TEC Filers ▾ Campaign Finance Reports tab at the top of this page and then select Political Committees.

A direct campaign expenditure is an expenditure made by any person in connection with a campaign for an elective office or on a measure that does not constitute a contribution. Direct campaign expenditures are made without the prior consent or approval of the candidate or officeholder on whose behalf the expenditure was made. If an expenditure is made in connection with a measure, then it will constitute a direct campaign expenditure if it is not a political contribution to a political committee supporting or opposing the measure.

Example 1: A corporation purchases a billboard that supports Jane Doe for school board. The corporation is not acting in concert with another person and spends more than $160 of its own money on the billboard. Jane Doe has not given prior consent or approval for the billboard and has not otherwise coordinated with the corporation. The corporation will be required to file a DCE report as an entity with the Commission to disclose the expenditure for the billboard. The DCE report is due by the next deadline applicable to a GPAC as if it were involved in the election. Note that if Jane Doe had coordinated with the corporation then the transaction could constitute a prohibited corporate political contribution, which is a felony of the third degree.

Example 2: John Doe decides to buy yard signs that support a ballot measure. John Doe is not acting in concert with another person and spends more than $160 of his own money on the signs. There is also a local SPAC that supports the ballot measure, but the SPAC has not given prior consent or approval for the yard signs and has not otherwise coordinated with John Doe. John Doe will be required to file a DCE report as an individual with the Commission to disclose the expenditure for the yard signs. The DCE report is due by the next deadline applicable to a GPAC as if it were involved in the election.

A DCE report is only required if you have reportable DCE activity during a reporting period. Unlike a GPAC, DCE filers are not required to file a campaign treasurer appointment and are not subject to ongoing reporting requirements.

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If you qualify to file paper reports, remember EACH REPORT must be accompanied by the proper exemption affidavit. Speaker reports can only be filed electronically.