BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 273
85R20597 SRS-D	By: Gonzales, Larry et al. (Campbell)
	State Affairs
	5/16/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Interested parties contend that a lack of attribution for ballot measures proposed by different authorities could result in confusion for voters. H.B. 273 seeks to reduce any potential confusion by requiring each proposition on a ballot for an election in which more than one measure is to be voted on to be identified in certain manners.

H.B. 273 amends current law relating to the content of local and state propositions on the ballot.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 52.095, Election Code, as follows:

Sec. 52.095. PROPOSITIONS. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text. Requires the authority ordering an election in which more than one measure is to be voted on, except as otherwise provided by law, to take certain actions, including identifying the propositions as follows:

(1) except as provided by Subdivision (2), for each proposition on the ballot, the authority ordering the election is required to assign a letter of the alphabet to the measure that corresponds to its order on the ballot; and

(2) for each proposition on the ballot to be voted on statewide, the authority ordering the election is required to assign a number to the measure that corresponds to its order on the ballot.

(b) Requires that each proposition on the ballot identify the name of the authority ordering the election on the measure.

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 274, Election Code, by adding Section 274.004, as follows:

Sec. 274.004. PROPOSITION BALLOT ORDER. Requires that a proposed constitutional amendment be placed on the ballot before all other propositions.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.