The Republican Party of Texas is calling for an end to the Texas Ethics Commission’s jurisdiction over private citizens.
Members of the State Republican Executive Committee passed a resolution over the weekend condemning the TEC—a state agency tasked with investigating campaign law violations—for “overreach and abuse of authority.” They also came out against proposals to expand its power.
Specifically highlighted was a report by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission that identified several issues with the TEC. Among them was a flawed sworn complaint process, prioritizing technical violations over wider ethical breaches, and seeking punitive damages.
One recent example involves an elderly woman in the Houston-area who was fined $17,500 because she could not physically appear before a hearing. The woman had attempted to report $3,500 in political expenses but completed the form incorrectly.
The Liberty in Action Network, a grassroots conservative organization based in Kerrville, also claimed in a May lawsuit that the TEC is weaponizing a burdensome portion of the Texas Election Code to stifle dissent.
According to the RPT Executive Committee’s resolution, “the TEC’s blended civil/criminal sworn complaint process violates the right to due process.”
“[I]nvestigations are initiated by hostile political rivals, take place behind closed doors in the Capitol in Austin, Texans are compelled to testify and give evidence against themselves, and face fines of up to $5,000 if the TEC deems their cooperation lacking, all at the risk of either civil penalties or a referral by the TEC for criminal prosecution,” read the resolution.
Scott Bowen, chairman of the RPT Resolutions Committee, told Texas Scorecard that the resolution “speaks for itself.”
“Texans’ First Amendment rights and our right to public participation are critical,” stated Bowen, adding that the resolution “identifies several ways that TEC should be reformed so that Texans cannot be punished for exercising free speech.”
The call for the TEC to have its jurisdiction over private citizens stripped comes after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals determined it had criminal court authority in a September 2024 ruling for the Ex Parte Charrette case.
Now, the TEC is further “calling for expanded powers and less accountability,” including hiring outside legal counsel without the approval of the attorney general and the power to deny drivers’ and occupational licenses.
“The Republican Party of Texas calls on the Texas Legislature to reject the TEC’s requests for expanded power … and specifically opposes any efforts to eliminate de novo judicial review of TEC decisions,” concluded the resolution.
In addition to the TEC resolution, the RPT Executive Committee passed a resolution over the weekend urging Republican lawmakers to unite around State Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield) for House speaker.