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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a person submitting proof of citizenship to verify |
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eligibility to vote in Texas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A person desiring to register to vote must submit an |
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application and proof of citizenship as required under Subsection |
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(a-1) to the registrar of the county in which the person resides. |
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Except as provided by Subsection (e), an application must be |
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submitted by personal delivery, by mail, or by telephonic facsimile |
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machine in accordance with Sections 13.143(d) and (d-2). |
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(a-1) An applicant submitting a registration application |
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must present proof that the applicant is a United States citizen to: |
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(1) the registrar, if the application is submitted by |
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personal delivery; or |
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(2) a Department of Public Safety employee at the |
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department's office, if the application is submitted by mail or by |
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telephonic facsimile machine. |
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(a-2) For purposes of Subsection (a-1), the applicant shall |
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present any of the following: |
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(1) the applicant's Texas driver's license that is |
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compliant with the federal REAL ID program; |
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(2) the applicant's Texas identification card that is |
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compliant with the federal REAL ID program; |
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(3) an original or certified copy of the applicant's |
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birth certificate; |
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(4) the applicant's unexpired United States passport |
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or card; |
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(5) the applicant's certificate of naturalization |
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issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; |
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or |
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(6) the applicant's certificate of citizenship issued |
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by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 13.0022 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.0022. NOTICE TO PRESENT PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP FOR |
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APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY MAIL OR BY TELEPHONIC FACSIMILE MACHINE. |
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(a) This section applies only to a registration application |
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submitted by mail or by telephonic facsimile machine that does not |
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include proof that the applicant is a United States citizen. |
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(b) On receipt of a registration application, the registrar |
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shall transmit a notice to the applicant of the requirements of |
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Section 13.002 (a-1) and Section 13.002 (a-2) and include |
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instructions to enable the applicant to satisfy those requirements. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application for voter registration submitted on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. An application for voter registration |
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submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law in effect when the application was submitted, and the former law |
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is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |