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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the secretary of state posting on the secretary of |
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state's Internet website databases containing certain information |
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about elections. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 4.003, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(e) The authority responsible for giving notice of the |
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election shall deliver: |
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(1) to the secretary of state a copy of the notice of a |
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consolidated precinct required by Subsection (b) not later than the |
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date of the election; and |
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(2) in January of each year information on an election |
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for a partisan office, the office of mayor, or a position on the |
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governing body of a city or board of trustees of an independent |
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school district for the secretary of state's database of election |
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information under Section 31.023 in an electronic format as |
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follows: |
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(A) if the authority is a county or political |
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party, as required by the secretary of state; or |
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(B) if the authority is a city or school |
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district, to the county in which the authority is located. |
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(e-1) A county receiving information under Subsection |
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(e)(2)(B) shall forward the information to the secretary of state. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 31.023 and 31.024 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.023. INTERNET DATABASE OF ELECTION INFORMATION. |
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(a) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary of state's |
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public Internet website a database containing information on each |
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election for a partisan office, the office of mayor, or a position |
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on the governing body of a city or board of trustees of an |
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independent school district provided under Sections 4.003(e) and |
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(e-1). The database must include the following information: |
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(1) the name of the authority; |
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(2) each office to be filled at the election; |
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(3) whether the office is elected at large or by |
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district; |
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(4) the duration of the term of office; and |
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(5) the dates of the preceding and next election for |
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the office. |
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(b) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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Sec. 31.024. INTERNET DATABASE FOR INCUMBENTS AND |
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CANDIDATES. (a) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary |
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of state's public Internet website a database containing |
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information about each holder of and candidate for any partisan |
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elected office, office of mayor, or position on the governing body |
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of a city or a board of trustees of an independent school district |
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in this state. |
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(b) The database must include the following information |
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about a holder of a partisan elected office, the office of mayor, or |
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a position on the governing body of a city or board of trustees of an |
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independent school district: |
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(1) name; |
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(2) office title, including any district, place, or |
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position and a notation that the person is an incumbent; |
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(3) if the office is elected at large or by district; |
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(4) date of the previous and next election for the |
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office; |
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(5) public mailing address; |
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(6) public telephone number, if available; and |
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(7) public e-mail address, if available. |
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(c) The database must include the following information |
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about a candidate for a partisan elected office, the office of |
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mayor, or a position on the governing body of a city or board of |
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trustees of an independent school district: |
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(1) name; |
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(2) office sought, including any district, place, or |
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position; |
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(3) if the office is elected at large or by district; |
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(4) date of the election; |
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(5) public mailing address; |
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(6) public telephone number, if available; |
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(7) public e-mail address, if available; and |
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(8) if the candidate has filed as a write-in |
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candidate. |
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(d) The county with whom a declaration of candidacy is |
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filed, a state or county chair of a political party, or the |
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presiding officer of a political party's convention shall provide |
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information about a candidate or officeholder to the secretary of |
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state. A political subdivision shall provide information about a |
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candidate or officeholder to the county in which the political |
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subdivision is located and the county shall forward that |
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information to the secretary of state. |
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(e) The secretary of state shall make the name, office, and |
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party affiliation of the holder of a partisan elected office, the |
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office of mayor, or a position on the governing body of a city or |
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board of trustees of an independent school district available on |
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the secretary of state's public Internet website for as long as the |
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person holds that office. |
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(f) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 141.032, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (h) to read as follows: |
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(h) A county or political party with whom an application is |
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filed shall provide the secretary of state with the candidate's |
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information required for the secretary of state's public Internet |
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website under Section 31.024. A political subdivision with whom an |
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application is filed shall provide the candidate's information to |
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the county in which the political subdivision is located, and the |
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county shall forward the candidate's information to the secretary |
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of state. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |