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AN ACT
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relating to ineligibility to serve as a poll watcher. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 33.006(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A certificate of appointment must: |
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(1) be in writing and signed by the appointing |
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authority or, for an appointment for a write-in candidate under |
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Section 33.004, by each of the voters making the appointment; |
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(2) indicate the capacity in which the appointing |
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authority is acting; |
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(3) state the name, residence address, and voter |
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registration number of the appointee and be signed by the |
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appointee; |
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(4) identify the election and the precinct polling |
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place or other location at which the appointee is to serve; |
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(5) in an election on a measure, identify the measure |
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if more than one is to be voted on and state which side of the |
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measure the appointee represents; and |
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(6) contain an affidavit executed by the appointee |
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stating that the appointee: |
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(A) will not have possession of a device capable |
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of recording images or sound or that the appointee will disable or |
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deactivate the device while serving as a watcher; and |
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(B) has not been finally convicted of a felony of |
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the first or second degree or a felony offense in connection with |
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conduct directly attributable to an election. |
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SECTION 2. Section 33.035, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.035. INELIGIBILITY OF PERSON CONVICTED OF CERTAIN |
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OFFENSES [ELECTION OFFENSE]. A person is ineligible to serve as a |
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watcher in an election if the person has been finally convicted of a |
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felony: |
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(1) of the first or second degree; or |
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(2) [an offense] in connection with conduct directly |
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attributable to an election. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 493 was passed by the House on May 13, |
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2025, by the following vote: Yeas 86, Nays 52, 3 present, not |
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voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to |
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H.B. No. 493 on May 28, 2025, and requested the appointment of a |
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conference committee to consider the differences between the two |
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houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report |
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on H.B. No. 493 on June 1, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 90, |
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Nays 44, 2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 493 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 26, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays |
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5; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference |
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committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and |
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that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. |
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493 on June 1, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |