BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2259
89R6271 MPF-D	By: DeAyala (Zaffirini)
	State Affairs
	5/6/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Voters with visual impairments have reported difficulty reading the instructions that accompany early voting mail-in ballot applications. These instructions are often printed in small font on a half-sheet of paper, making them hard to read and increasing the risk of application errors.

H.B. 2259 would reduce confusion, prevent mistakes, and help ensure that all eligible voters can participate effectively in elections by improving the readability of these instructions.

H.B. 2259 amends current law relating to the instructions for an application form for an early voting ballot.

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 Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, by adding Section 84.0112, as follows:

Sec. 84.0112. OFFICIAL APPLICATION FORM INSTRUCTIONS. (a) Requires the secretary of state (SOS) to prescribe instructions to be printed for the officially prescribed application form for an early voting ballot. Requires that the instructions:

(1) be presented in portrait orientation on a single piece of paper that is 8-1/2 by 11 inches;

�(2) be printed in Calibri or Aptos font in at least 12-point font or the largest font size that allows the instructions to fit on a single piece of paper, as determined by SOS; and

(3) contain bold print, as determined necessary by SOS, to adequately relate the instructions to an item on the application.

(b) Requires SOS to prescribe instructions to be printed along with the officially prescribed application form for an early voting ballot in each language appropriate to the demographic composition of this state in the form and manner prescribed by Subsection (a).

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.