Bills have been filed in the Texas House (HB2283) and Senate (SB7) to prevent or limit private citizens from giving money to local election agencies. These bills are, in part, a response to the $36 million given by Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, to Texas election agencies to provide PPE equipment, boost mail-in ballots, and encourage drive-through voting, among other strategies designed to increase voter turnout. The money went primarily to blue counties, with Dallas and Houston counties receiving the largest sums, $15 million and $9.6 million respectively.

The controversial Senate bill passed this week with an overnight vote after lengthy deliberation.