BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2993

By: Morales Shaw

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In Texas, valid forms of voter identification, such as a Texas driver's license or a U.S. passport, typically provide a name, photograph, and expiration date. Transportation worker identification credential cards, or TWIC cards, are a valid form of government identification utilized by chemical plant workers, railroad employees, port personnel and other industries that contain critical infrastructure. Although TWIC cards provide the cardholder's name, photograph, and expiration date, they are currently not considered a valid form of voter identification. H.B. 2993 seeks to address this issue by including TWIC cards as a valid form of voter identification.

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. 2993 amends the Election Code to include among the acceptable forms of photo identification for purposes of accepting a voter a transportation worker identification credential card issued by the TSA that has not expired or that expired no earlier than four years before the date of presentation.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.