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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of peace officers and private parties to |
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prevent individuals from accessing private property for the purpose |
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of registering voters or communicating political messages. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 276, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 276.014 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 276.014. DOOR TO DOOR POLITICAL MESSAGING. (a) In this |
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section, "residential unit" includes a single-family house, a |
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single-family house located in a residential subdivision or housing |
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development, an apartment, a condominium, or another unit in a |
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multifamily residential structure. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a peace officer or |
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private party may not prevent an individual from knocking on the |
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front door of a residential unit, ringing the doorbell of the unit, |
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or leaving a pamphlet, flier, or other form of written |
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communication at the unit for the purpose of: |
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(1) assisting an occupant of the unit with registering |
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to vote; or |
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(2) communicating to an occupant of the unit support |
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or opposition for: |
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(A) a candidate for nomination or election to |
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public office or office of a political party; |
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(B) a political party; or |
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(C) a measure, as defined by Section 251.001. |
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(c) A peace officer may prevent an individual from engaging |
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in an activity under Subsection (b) if necessary to enforce a |
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criminal statute or a reasonable restriction on the time, place, or |
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manner of the activity. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |