Texas HB143: Relating to political advertising distributed or broadcast as part of a mass text message campaign and civil penalties for required disclosures on certain political advertising.

What the bill says

An act relating to political advertising distributed or broadcast as part of a mass text message campaign and civil penalties for required disclosures on certain political advertising.

From the introduced text, July 21, 2025:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to political advertising distributed or broadcast as part of a mass text message campaign and civil penalties for required disclosures on certain political advertising. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 251.001, Election Code, is amended by amending Subdivision (16) and adding Subdivision (22) to read as follows: (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. [ADDED: (22)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: "Mass text message campaign" means an organized ] [ADDED: effort in which a person sends a text message to multiple recipients ] [ADDED: in support of or opposition to a candidate, a political party, a ] [ADDED: public officer, or a measure and which involves an expenditure of ] [ADDED: funds for the messages that exceed the basic cost of hardware, ] [ADDED: messaging software, and bandwidth.] SECTION 2. Section …

Sponsors

• Dade Phelan (R, HD-021) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. July 21, 2025: Filed

Common questions

What is HB143?

HB143 is a bill in the Texas Legislature (89th Legislature 1st Special Session): Relating to political advertising distributed or broadcast as part of a mass text message campaign and civil penalties for required disclosures on certain political advertising.

What does HB143 do?

In its own words: An act relating to political advertising distributed or broadcast as part of a mass text message campaign and civil penalties for required disclosures on certain political advertising.

What is the status of HB143?

Introduced as of July 21, 2025. Latest action: Filed (July 21, 2025).

Who sponsored HB143?

Dade Phelan (R, HD-021).

Where is the official record for HB143?

On the Texas Legislature website: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=891&Bill=HB00143