BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2059

By: Bucy

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Local elections held on the uniform election date in May or November often result in runoff elections, which then must be held over the course of a few weeks following the date the final canvass of the main election is completed. This often results in varying dates of multiple runoff elections in the same geographic area, which in turn confuses voters in jurisdictions with simultaneous runoff elections held on different dates and may cause considerable logistical issues. H.B. 2059 seeks to address this issue by standardizing the date of runoff elections for May and November general elections.

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. 2059 amends the Election Code to change the date of runoff elections from not earlier than the 20th or later than the 45th day after the date the final canvass of the main election is completed to the first Saturday after the 27th day after the date of the main election. The bill repeals the authorization for a home-rule city charter to prescribe a later runoff election date.

H.B. 2059 repeals Section 2.025(b), Election Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.