BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1968

By: Cook

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires county elections administrators to contract with political subdivisions such as cities or school districts to provide election services on request of the political subdivision. However, counties are not always required to offer these services for elections held on the May uniform election date, and the bill author has informed the committee that this can create logistical challenges for political subdivisions needing election administration support. H.B. 1968 seeks to ensure consistency in election administration and help smaller political subdivisions access necessary election services by removing the option for county elections administrators to decline to enter into a contract to furnish election services for an election held on a May uniform election date.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1968 repeals Section 41.001(d), Election Code, which establishes that a county elections administrator is not required to enter into a contract to furnish election services for an election held by a political subdivision other than a county, or ordered by the governor, on the May uniform election date of an even-numbered year. The repeal applies only to an election held on or after the bill's effective date. An election held before the bill's effective date is governed by the law in effect on the date the election was held, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.