Request Campaign Contribution Records - Fort Worth

Elections and Campaign Finance Texas 4 Minutes Read · published February 06, 2026 Flag of Texas

Fort Worth residents and researchers can request campaign contribution records for city elections under Texas public records law. The City Secretary processes municipal records requests and provides instructions for requesting specific filings and disclosure documents related to city candidates and committees. Use the official public information procedures to identify records, submit a request, and track responses. If the city cannot release a record, the Texas Attorney General handles appeals under the Public Information Act and issues binding opinions on exemptions.

Start by identifying the candidate or filing period before you request records.

What records are included

Campaign contribution records may include campaign finance reports, contribution lists, expenditure reports, and related supporting documents filed with the city for municipal elections. Availability depends on whether the documents were filed with the City Secretary for Fort Worth or with another election authority; check candidate filing pages for municipal reports[2].

How to make a public records request

Follow these steps to request campaign contribution records from Fort Worth: identify the specific document or date range, provide a written request that reasonably describes the records, include contact information, and submit it according to the City Secretary's public information procedures[1]. If the City Secretary denies access, an appeal may be filed with the Texas Attorney General[3].

  1. Identify the candidate name, committee, filing period, or document types you need.
  2. Contact the City Secretary to confirm where filings are held and whether records are available electronically.
  3. Submit a written public information request that reasonably describes the records and provides a return email or mailing address.
  4. Pay any applicable duplication or research fees charged under city practice and state law; request an estimate if needed.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement and penalties for campaign finance and access to records involve several authorities. The City Secretary administers municipal filings and responds to public information requests; the Texas Attorney General resolves disputes under the Public Information Act. Specific monetary fines or civil penalties for failures to file campaign finance reports or for records violations are not specified on the cited City Secretary pages and depend on the governing statute or ordinance cited by the enforcing authority[1].

Where the municipal code or state law prescribes penalties, those amounts and escalation for first, repeat, or continuing offences must be taken from the controlling statute or ordinance; if a specific fine amount or escalation rule is not published on the city pages cited, it is noted below as not specified on the cited page.

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation (first/repeat/continuing offences): not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to produce records, referral to prosecuting authority or civil action are possible; specific remedies not specified on the cited page.
  • Enforcer: City Secretary for municipal filings; appeals and final determinations on public information denials handled by the Texas Attorney General.
  • Inspection and complaint pathways: submit a public information request to the City Secretary; if denied, file a request for decision with the Texas Attorney General.
  • Appeal/review routes and time limits: the City Secretary’s pages do not list exact appeal deadlines; consult the Texas Attorney General process for statutory deadlines for filing an open records decision request.
If a penalty amount or deadline is needed, request the specific ordinance citation from the City Secretary or consult the municipal code.

Applications & Forms

The City Secretary provides procedures for Public Information Act requests but does not publish a single campaign-finance-specific request form on the cited pages; no campaign-finance-specific form is specified on the cited City Secretary pages. For municipal filings and candidate reports, consult the elections and candidate filing information[2].

Common violations

  • Failure to file required campaign finance reports on schedule — penalties not specified on the cited page.
  • Incomplete or unsigned disclosure documents — remedial orders or resubmission may be required.
  • Refusal to produce requested public records — subject to appeal to the Texas Attorney General.

Action steps

  • Search the City Secretary elections pages for candidate filing names and dates before requesting records[2].
  • Send a written public information request to the City Secretary describing records sought and preferred delivery method (email or physical copies).[1]
  • If the City charges fees, request a fee estimate and pay as instructed.
  • If denied, follow the Texas Attorney General appeal process for an open records decision.[3]

FAQ

How do I request campaign contribution records for a Fort Worth city candidate?
You must submit a written Public Information Act request to the City Secretary that reasonably describes the records, or consult candidate filing pages for posted reports. See the City Secretary public information procedures for submission details.[1]
How long will the city take to respond?
Response times follow the Texas Public Information Act schedule, but specific response deadlines or extensions are not listed on the cited City Secretary pages; consult the Texas Attorney General guidance if a timeliness dispute arises.[3]
Are there fees to obtain copies of campaign records?
The City may charge duplication or research fees; exact fees and how they are calculated are not specified on the cited City Secretary pages, so request a fee estimate when you submit your request.[1]

How-To

  1. Identify the candidate, committee, or filing period and the exact documents you need.
  2. Contact the City Secretary to confirm where the records are held and any preferred submission method.
  3. Submit a written Public Information Act request to the City Secretary describing the records and providing contact information.[1]
  4. Obtain and pay any fee estimate for copying or research, if required.
  5. If you receive a denial, file an appeal/request for decision with the Texas Attorney General’s Open Records Division.[3]

Key Takeaways

  • Start with the City Secretary: municipal campaign filings and public records requests are administered there.
  • If the city denies release, the Texas Attorney General resolves Public Information Act disputes.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Fort Worth Public Information Act - City Secretary
  2. [2] City of Fort Worth Elections & Candidate Filings
  3. [3] Texas Attorney General - Requests for Public Information

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