BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1540

By: Bettencourt

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that individuals who work in elections may face increased risks to personal safety that arise as a result of their roles. The bill sponsor has also informed the committee that given the current difficulties in finding people to work in elections, the need to protect these individuals from avoidable harm is critical. S.B. 1540 seeks to protect Texas' election workers by allowing these individuals to make their personal information confidential under state public information law.

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

S.B. 1540 amends the Government Code to establish that information that relates to the home address, home telephone number, emergency contact information, date of birth, or social security number of the following individuals, or that reveals whether the individual has family members, is confidential and may not be disclosed to the public under state public information law if the individual to whom the information relates chooses to restrict public access to the information and notifies the governmental body of the individual's choice as prescribed under statute:

· a current or former election official, as defined by reference to the Election Code;

· an employee, volunteer, or designee of an election official; and

· an employee of the secretary of state's office who performs duties relating to elections.

S.B. 1540 applies only to a request for information that is received by a governmental body or an officer on or after the bill's effective date. A request for information that was received before the bill's effective date is governed by the law in effect on the date the request was received, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.