BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2057

By: Klick

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, counties redraw their election precinct lines in the spring of odd-numbered years, with the changes taking effect on January 1 of an election year. Most campaigns get started well before that date, which creates the possibility of a campaign beginning under one set of precinct lines, only to have the lines changed two months before the primary election. Furthermore, the voter registration roll maintained by the secretary of state does not immediately include updated district information after the changes take effect. While the Texas Legislative Council creates a precinct file that lists the district numbers for each county election precinct, this process typically takes a few months to be completed. H.B. 2057 seeks to address these issues by requiring counties to redraw precinct boundary lines in even-numbered years and making boundary changes effective in the following odd-numbered year.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2057 amends the Election Code to change the time frame during which each county commissioners court is required to determine whether the county election precincts comply with certain territorial and population requirements from March or April of each odd-numbered year to March or April of each even-numbered year. The bill changes the date on which a change in a county election precinct boundary takes effect from the first day of the first even-numbered voting year following the voting year in which the change is ordered to the first day of the first odd-numbered year following the year in which the change is ordered.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.