88R13402 PRL-F
 
  By: Morales of Maverick H.B. No. 4781
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to promoting voter registration and voting participation
  in rural counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 18, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D.  RURAL VOTER REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION
         Sec. 18.081.  APPLICATION. This subchapter applies only to
  a voter registrar in a county with a population of 250,000 or less
  according to the most recent decennial census.
         Sec. 18.082.  RURAL VOTER REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION.
  (a)  Notwithstanding Section 19.004, each voter registrar may use
  state funds disbursed under this subchapter or Chapter 19 to
  promote voter registration or voting participation in a county.
         (b)  A voter registrar may promote:
               (1)  voter registration, by identifying persons
  eligible for registration and encouraging the identified persons to
  register to vote; and
               (2)  voting participation, by encouraging registered
  voters to vote and providing to registered voters:
                     (A)  election information, including voting dates
  and polling place locations; and
                     (B)  transportation to and from polling place
  locations during the voting period.
         (c)  A voter registrar that promotes voter registration or
  voting participation under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) may not:
               (1)  promote any particular party, candidate, or group
  of candidates; or
               (2)  target the voter registrar's efforts toward
  individuals on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex.
         (d)  A voter registrar may contract with a nonprofit
  organization to carry out the promotion of voter registration or
  voting participation permitted under this section.
         Sec. 18.083.  FUNDING. A voter registrar may use any
  available revenue, including legislative appropriations, and may
  solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from a public or
  private source for the purposes of this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.