Tex. Codes » Election Code · TITLE 15. REGULATING POLITICAL FUNDS AND CAMPAIGNS · CHAPTER 253. RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
Texas Codes

Tex. Elec. Code § 253.003 (2026)

Unlawfully Making Or Accepting Contribution

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 253.003. UNLAWFULLY MAKING OR ACCEPTING CONTRIBUTION. (a) A person may not knowingly make a political contribution in violation of this chapter.

(b) A person may not knowingly accept a political contribution the person knows to have been made in violation of this chapter.

(c) This section does not apply to a political contribution made or accepted in violation of Subchapter F.

(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a person who violates this section commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

(e) A violation of Subsection (a) or (b) is a felony of the third degree if the contribution is made in violation of Subchapter D.

Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 763, Sec. 2, eff. June 16, 1995.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 39 cases, 1990–2015 · leading case: State v. Colyandro, 233 S.W.3d 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
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State v. Colyandro, 233 S.W.3d 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). · cites it 10× “[46] TEX. ELEC.CODE ANN. § 253.003 (Vernon Supp.”
Osterberg v. Peca, 12 S.W.3d 31 (Tex. 2000). · cites it 6× “, Tex. ELEC.CODE § 253.003(b) ("A person may not knowingly accept a political contribution the person knows to have been made in violation of this chapter.”
Delay v. State, 465 S.W.3d 232 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). · cites it 5× “See Tex. Elec.Code § 253.003(a) ("A person may not knowingly make a political contribution in violation of this chapter.”
Delay, Thomas Dale, 443 S.W.3d 909 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). · cites it 5× “See Tex Elec.Code § 253.003(a) ("A person may not knowingly make a political contribution in violation of this chapter.”
Ex Parte Ellis, 309 S.W.3d 71 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “Texas Election Code § 253.003 provides in relevant part that “[a] person may not knowingly accept a political contribution the person knows to have been made in violation of this chapter.”
Ex Parte Ellis, 279 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. App. 2009). · cites it 5× “See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 253.003 (West 2003); see also id.”
Thomas Dale DeLay v. State, 410 S.W.3d 902 (Tex. App. 2013). · cites it 7× “See Tex. Elec. Code § 253.003(a), (e) (making it third degree felony if person “knowingly makes a political contribution” in violation of Subchapter D).”
Castillo v. State, 59 S.W.3d 357 (Tex. App. 2001). · cites it 4× “See Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 253.003 (b), 253.”
Cook v. Tom Brown Ministries, 385 S.W.3d 592 (Tex. App. 2012). · cites it 3× “Texas Election Code §§ 253.003, 253.005, and 253.”
State v. DeLay, 208 S.W.3d 603 (Tex. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “02 (West 2003); Tex. Elec.Code Ann. §§ 253.003, .094, .104 (West 2003).”
Ex Parte Ellis, 275 S.W.3d 74 (Tex. App. 2008). · cites it 3× “See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 253.003 (West 2003); see also id.”
Fogo v. State, 830 S.W.2d 592 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). “Appellant and the State agree that the only statutory provisions that could possibly support appellant’s conviction are Texas Election Code §§ 253.003 and 253.033, which provide in relevant part: § 253.”
Show all 39 citing cases →
— Tex. Elec. Code § 253.003(a) — 9 cases
Delay v. State, 465 S.W.3d 232 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex. Elec.Code § 253.003(a) ("A person may not knowingly make a political contribution in violation of this chapter.”
Delay, Thomas Dale, 443 S.W.3d 909 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex Elec.Code § 253.003(a) ("A person may not knowingly make a political contribution in violation of this chapter.”
State v. Colyandro, 233 S.W.3d 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “[46] TEX. ELEC.CODE ANN. § 253.003 (Vernon Supp.”
Thomas Dale DeLay v. State, 410 S.W.3d 902 (Tex. App. 2013). “See Tex. Elec. Code § 253.003(a), (e) (making it third degree felony if person “knowingly makes a political contribution” in violation of Subchapter D).”
Castillo v. State, 59 S.W.3d 357 (Tex. App. 2001). “See Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 253.003 (b), 253.”
— Tex. Elec. Code § 253.003(b) — 11 cases
Osterberg v. Peca, 12 S.W.3d 31 (Tex. 2000). “, Tex. ELEC.CODE § 253.003(b) ("A person may not knowingly accept a political contribution the person knows to have been made in violation of this chapter.”
State v. Colyandro, 233 S.W.3d 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “[46] TEX. ELEC.CODE ANN. § 253.003 (Vernon Supp.”
Ex Parte Ellis, 309 S.W.3d 71 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). “Texas Election Code § 253.003 provides in relevant part that “[a] person may not knowingly accept a political contribution the person knows to have been made in violation of this chapter.”
Castillo v. State, 59 S.W.3d 357 (Tex. App. 2001). “See Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 253.003 (b), 253.”
Delay v. State, 465 S.W.3d 232 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex. Elec.Code § 253.003(a) ("A person may not knowingly make a political contribution in violation of this chapter.”
— Tex. Elec. Code § 253.003(c) — 1 case
Cary, Stacy Stine (Tex. App. 2015).
— Tex. Elec. Code § 253.003(e) — 7 cases
State v. Colyandro, 233 S.W.3d 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “[46] TEX. ELEC.CODE ANN. § 253.003 (Vernon Supp.”
Delay v. State, 465 S.W.3d 232 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex. Elec.Code § 253.003(a) ("A person may not knowingly make a political contribution in violation of this chapter.”
Delay, Thomas Dale, 443 S.W.3d 909 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex Elec.Code § 253.003(a) ("A person may not knowingly make a political contribution in violation of this chapter.”
King Street Patriots v. Texas Democratic Party, 459 S.W.3d 631 (Tex. App. 2014).
King Street Patriots, Catherine Engelbrecht, Bryan Engelbrecht & Diane Josephs v. Texas Democratic Party Gilberto Hinojosa, Successor to Boyd Richie, in His Capacity as Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party & John Warren, in His Capacity as Democratic Nominee for Dallas Cnty. Clerk (Tex. App. 2014).
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