Campaign Finance Late Filing Penalties

At a glance

• What: An ordinance amending Section 18-104 of the Code of Ordinances on the failure to timely file a campaign finance report (Item 38, listed as a "Proposition A Council Member Item").
• Outcome: Council Member Ramirez added a table amendment; the amendment passed (Motion 2026-0535), and the ordinance passed as amended by roll call, 15 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent (Ordinance 2026-0825).
• What the amendment requires: The City Secretary must file a sworn complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission within five business days of a missed deadline, and post a list of late filers within 24 hours of the deadline. Before filing or publishing, the Secretary may take the time reasonably necessary to verify the records.

Detail

Amendment text (added as subsections c, d and e):

• (c) Within five business days of the due date, the City Secretary or a designee files an electronic or written sworn complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission describing the failure, with the documents needed to establish the violation.
• (d) The City Secretary posts on the website a list of officeholders and candidates for city elective office who missed the deadline, within 24 hours of the deadline, and updates it as late reports arrive.
• (e) Before filing a complaint or publishing the list, the City Secretary takes the time reasonably necessary to verify the information, then completes verification and files and publishes as soon as reasonably practicable.

Votes: the amendment passed by voice vote, all aye. The roll call on the amended ordinance had all members voting aye except Council Member Castex-Tatum and Council Member Castillo, who were absent.

Sources

• City Council regular meeting minutes, September 22-23, 2026 (No. 2026-524-1): https://www.houstontx.gov/citysec/agenda/2026/20260922.pdf

Log

2026-09-23 - City Council

Ramirez table amendment adopted (Motion 2026-0535); ordinance adopted as amended (Ordinance 2026-0825) on a roll call with no opposition.