BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1909
88R6461 MLH-D	By: Bettencourt
	State Affairs
	3/21/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under the Texas Election Code, a party is entitled to appropriate injunctive relief to prevent a violation of the Election Code from continuing or occurring. 

During the November 2022 election in Harris County, there was a temporary restraining order issued to keep the polls open an hour later. The office of the attorney general was not notified of the hearing or the results by the court even though the election was over federal and state offices. 

S.B. 1909 would require that if a court issues a temporary restraining order under the Texas Election Code, a copy of the temporary restraining order would be submitted to the attorney general.

As proposed, S.B. 1909 amends current law relating to the administration of a temporary restraining order under the Election Code.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 273, Election Code, to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER E. INJUNCTION OR RESTRAINING ORDER

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 273, Election Code, by adding Section 273.082, as follows:

Sec. 273.082. ADMINISTRATION OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER. Requires a court that issues a temporary restraining order under this code to submit a copy of that temporary restraining order to the office of the attorney general.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.