2025 Texas Statutes
Election Code
Title 15 - Regulating Political Funds and Campaigns
Chapter 255 - Regulating Political Advertising and Campaign Communications
Section 255.006. Misleading Use of Office Title
Sec. 255.006. MISLEADING USE OF OFFICE TITLE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly enters into a contract or other agreement to print, publish, or broadcast political advertising with the intent to represent to an ordinary and prudent person that a candidate holds a public office that the candidate does not hold at the time the agreement is made.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly represents in a campaign communication that a candidate holds a public office that the candidate does not hold at the time the representation is made.
(c) For purposes of this section, a person represents that a candidate holds a public office that the candidate does not hold if:
(1) the candidate does not hold the office that the candidate seeks; and
(2) the political advertising or campaign communication states the public office sought but does not include the word "for" in a type size that is at least one-half the type size used for the name of the office to clarify that the candidate does not hold that office.
(d) A person other than an officeholder commits an offense if the person knowingly uses a representation of the state seal in political advertising.
(e) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 300, Sec. 30, eff. Aug. 30, 1993; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 250, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1134, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 5.17, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 737, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
