Texas campaign contribution limits and rules

One of the first questions every first-time candidate asks is, *how much can someone give me?* In Texas the answer surprises people: for most local races there is no statutory dollar limit on what an individual can contribute. But that headline hides a thicket of rules that absolutely will trip you up — bans on corporate and union money, a hard cap on cash, strict timing windows, and reporting obligations on in-kind gifts. Breaking one of these isn't a technicality; it can mean a refund, an amended report, or a complaint to the Ethics Commission. This guide covers the contribution rules that matter for local, nonpartisan Texas races, and where you need to verify the current figures yourself.

Is there a contribution limit for local races in Texas?

For most nonpartisan local offices — city council, mayor, school board — Texas does not set a maximum dollar amount that an individual may give to a candidate. A single supporter can, in principle, write a large personal check. This is different from federal races, which have strict per-person caps, and it's a frequent point of confusion for candidates moving from volunteering on a congressional campaign to running for their local city council or school board seat.

That said, *no statutory cap* does not mean *anything goes*. There are timing restrictions (for example, limits on accepting contributions during and just before legislative sessions for certain offices), and some specific offices carry their own rules. The absence of a general dollar limit raises the stakes on the rules that do apply — especially who is allowed to give.

Who is prohibited from contributing to a Texas campaign?

This is the rule that catches generous, well-meaning supporters. In Texas, corporations and labor unions are generally prohibited from making political contributions to candidates. That means:

• A supporter who owns a business cannot write you a check from the business account — it has to come from personal funds.
• A company cannot donate goods or services in the company's name as an in-kind contribution to your campaign.
• A union cannot contribute to your candidate campaign from its treasury.
• There are narrow exceptions (for example, certain corporate spending on a measure, or incorporated political committees that follow specific rules) — don't assume an exception applies without checking.

If a business owner wants to help, the clean path is a personal contribution. If a printer wants to discount your signs, that discount may be an in-kind corporate contribution — which is prohibited — so pay the fair market price or have the owner contribute personally. When in doubt, decline and ask your filing authority.

How much cash can a contributor give?

Cash is the one place where Texas does set a low ceiling. A candidate generally may not accept more than a small cash amount from a single contributor per reporting period — a figure commonly cited around $100 — with anything above that required to come by check, money order, or traceable electronic payment. The reason is simple: traceability. Large cash contributions are nearly impossible to audit, so the law funnels real money through traceable channels.

How do in-kind contributions work?

An in-kind contribution is a gift of goods or services rather than money — a supporter pays for your venue, prints your mailers, or donates professional photography. These are real contributions with real reporting obligations:

• Report each in-kind gift at its fair market value on the appropriate schedule of your Form C/OH.
• The same source prohibitions apply — an in-kind gift from a corporation or union is just as prohibited as a cash one.
• Track in-kind gifts in real time; they're the contributions candidates most often forget to report.

What about contributions from other states or PACs?

Individuals from outside Texas can generally contribute to a local Texas candidate, subject to the same source and reporting rules. Political committees (PACs) can also contribute, but they must themselves be properly registered and compliant — and a contribution from an out-of-compliance committee can become your problem. When you accept money from any committee, confirm it's a legitimate, registered PAC and record it correctly. For the rules on documenting all of this, see our local candidate compliance checklist.

The bottom line

Texas gives local candidates a lot of room on how much an individual can give, but very little room on who can give and in what form. Refuse corporate and union money, keep cash under the limit (or skip it entirely), report in-kind gifts at fair value, and verify every specific figure with the Texas Ethics Commission before you rely on it. Get the sources right and the fundraising itself gets a lot less stressful — read our guide to fundraising a local campaign in Texas, or see how Mandate keeps your contributions compliant from the first dollar. Ready to run? Apply for early access.