BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 2216

By: Hughes

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

The bill sponsor has informed the committee of a need to safeguard the integrity of the voting process and that the physical security and oversight of election equipment in Texas should be strengthened. S.B. 2216 seeks to ensure that access to such equipment is controlled, tracked, and documented by providing for the secured storage of equipment used in the operation of a voting system, the placement of security seals on each unit of voting system equipment and procedures for documenting certain information regarding those seals, and the inclusion of information on an applicable polling location in an inventory of electronic information storage media maintained by the general custodian of election records.

 

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. 2216 amends the Election Code to require the following regarding the security of election system equipment:

·       that equipment used in the operation of a voting system be stored in a locked room;

·       that the inventory of electronic information storage media maintained pursuant to the requirement for the general custodian of election records to create and maintain an inventory of all such media include information on the polling location at which the storage media will be used;

·       that the general custodian of election records place security seals on each unit of voting system equipment to prevent unauthorized access to the equipment; and

·       that the general custodian of election records create a procedure for documenting the following:

o   which specific seals are placed on each unit of voting system equipment; and

o   any instances where the seals are removed, including the identity of the individual who removed the seals and accessed the voting system equipment and the purpose for accessing the equipment.

The bill applies only to an election ordered on or after the bill's effective date.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2025.