Honorable Poncho Nevárez, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1844 by Guillen (Relating to content, issuance, and change of driver's licenses and other forms of identification issued by the Department of Public Safety, including automatic voter registration.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1844, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($1,655,861) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2020
($1,075,585)
2021
($580,276)
2022
($1,075,585)
2023
($580,276)
2024
($1,075,585)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2020
($1,075,585)
2021
($580,276)
2022
($1,075,585)
2023
($580,276)
2024
($1,075,585)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend statute related to the issuance of identification through the Department of Public Safety to add automatic voter registration to state law. The bill would allow any individual eligible to be registered to vote, who completes an application for certain licenses or identification cards, to automatically be considered as registered to vote unless the individual indicates the transaction is not to be used for voter registration purposes. The bill would create an opt-out method of voter registration.
Methodology
Based on analysis by the Secretary of State and Texas Veterans Commission, this analysis assumes that the one-time implementation and information technology costs of the bill can be absorbed within existing state resources. However, analysis by the Secretary of State indicates that the automatic voter registration provisions of the bill will increase voter registration reimbursement payments to county voter registrars under Election Code, Section 19.002.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, no significant fiscal implication to counties is anticipated. Based on analysis by the Secretary of State, counties would be eligible for additional voter registrations reimbursements under the provisions of the bill.
Source Agencies:
307 Secretary of State, 403 Veterans Commission, 405 Department of Public Safety