89R5652 JDK-D

By: Garcia of Bexar H.B. No. 3359

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to identifying an individual with veteran's status and providing notice to the Texas Veterans Commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 13.004(c) and (d), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(c) The following information furnished on a registration application is confidential and does not constitute public information for purposes of Chapter 552, Government Code:

(1) a social security number;

(2) a Texas driver's license number;

(3) a number of a personal identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety;

(4) the residence address of the applicant, if the applicant is a federal judge, including a federal bankruptcy judge, a marshal of the United States Marshals Service, a United States attorney, or a state judge, a family member of a federal judge, including a federal bankruptcy judge, a marshal of the United States Marshals Service, a United States attorney, or a state judge, the spouse of a peace officer as defined by Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, or an individual to whom Section 552.1175, Government Code, or Section 521.1211, Transportation Code, applies and the applicant:

(A) included an affidavit with the registration application describing the applicant's status under this subdivision, if the applicant is a federal judge, including a federal bankruptcy judge, a marshal of the United States Marshals Service, a United States attorney, or a state judge or a family member of a federal judge, including a federal bankruptcy judge, a marshal of the United States Marshals Service, a United States attorney, or a state judge;

(B) provided the registrar with an affidavit describing the applicant's status under this subdivision, if the applicant is a federal judge, including a federal bankruptcy judge, a marshal of the United States Marshals Service, a United States attorney, or a state judge or a family member of a federal judge, including a federal bankruptcy judge, a marshal of the United States Marshals Service, a United States attorney, or a state judge; or

(C) provided the registrar with a completed form approved by the secretary of state for the purpose of notifying the registrar of the applicant's status under this subdivision;

(5) the residence address of the applicant, if the applicant, the applicant's child, or another person in the applicant's household is a victim of family violence as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code, who provided the registrar with:

(A) a copy of a protective order issued under Chapter 85, Family Code, or a magistrate's order for emergency protection issued under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure; or

(B) other independent documentary evidence necessary to show that the applicant, the applicant's child, or another person in the applicant's household is a victim of family violence;

(6) the residence address of the applicant, if the applicant, the applicant's child, or another person in the applicant's household is a victim of sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking of persons who provided the registrar with:

(A) a copy of a protective order issued under Subchapter A or B, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, or a magistrate's order for emergency protection issued under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure; or

(B) other independent documentary evidence necessary to show that the applicant, the applicant's child, or another person in the applicant's household is a victim of sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking of persons;

(7) the residence address of the applicant, if the applicant:

(A) is a participant in the address confidentiality program administered by the attorney general under Subchapter B, Chapter 58, Code of Criminal Procedure; and

(B) provided the registrar with proof of certification under Article 58.059, Code of Criminal Procedure; [or]

(8) the telephone number of any applicant submitting documentation under Subdivision (4), (5), (6), or (7); or

(9) the applicant's status as a veteran.

(d) The voter registrar or other county official who has access to the information furnished on a registration application may not post the following information on a website:

(1) a telephone number;

(2) a social security number;

(3) a driver's license number or a number of a personal identification card;

(4) a date of birth; [or]

(5) the residence address of a voter who submits documentation under Subsection (c)(4), (5), (6), or (7) to the voter registrar or regarding whom the registrar has received notification under Section 15.0215; or

(6) an applicant's status as a veteran.

SECTION 2. Section 13.071, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:

(c) The registrar shall compile a list of each submitted application for registration that indicates the applicant served in the United States armed forces, including their reserve components, an auxiliary service of one of the branches of the armed forces, or the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code. The list shall include each applicant's:

(1) residence address; and

(2) if provided by the applicant, telephone number.

(d) The secretary of state shall adopt procedures for the transmission of information collected under Subsection (c) to the Texas Veterans Commission.

SECTION 3. Section 13.122, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(a) In addition to the other statements and spaces for entering information that appear on an officially prescribed registration application form, each official form must include:

(1) the statement: "I understand that giving false information to procure a voter registration is perjury and a crime under state and federal law.";

(2) a space for the applicant's registration number;

(3) a space for the applicant's Texas driver's license number or number of a personal identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety;

(4) a space for the applicant's telephone number;

(5) a space for the applicant's social security number;

(6) a space for the applicant's sex;

(7) a statement indicating that the furnishing of the applicant's telephone number and sex is optional;

(8) a space or box for indicating whether the applicant or voter is submitting new registration information or a change in current registration information;

(9) a statement instructing a voter who is using the form to make a change in current registration information to enter the voter's name and the changed information in the appropriate spaces on the form;

(10) a statement that if the applicant declines to register to vote, that fact will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes;

(11) a statement that if the applicant does register to vote, information regarding the agency or office to which the application is submitted will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes;

(12) a space or box for indicating whether the applicant is interested in working as an election judge;

(13) a statement warning that a conviction for making a false statement may result in imprisonment for up to the maximum amount of time provided by law, a fine of up to the maximum amount provided by law, or both the imprisonment and the fine; [and]

(14) a space or box for indicating whether the applicant served in the United States armed forces, including their reserve components, an auxiliary service of one of the branches of the armed forces, or the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code, and a statement acknowledging that:

(A) providing this information is optional; and

(B) this information will remain confidential and will be used only to print a designation on the voter registration certificate and to provide notification of the applicant's veteran status to the Texas Veterans Commission, which may contact the applicant to connect the applicant with available services; and

(15) [(14)] any other voter registration information required by federal law or considered appropriate and required by the secretary of state.

(d) The information furnished by an applicant under Subsection (a)(14) may only be used for the purpose described by Sections 13.071(c) and (d) or Section 15.001(a).

SECTION 4. Section 15.001(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Each voter registration certificate issued must contain:

(1) the voter's name in the form indicated by the voter, subject to applicable requirements prescribed by Section 13.002 and by rule of the secretary of state;

(2) the voter's residence address or, if the residence has no address, the address at which the voter receives mail and a concise description of the location of the voter's residence;

(3) the year of the voter's birth;

(4) the number of the county election precinct in which the voter resides;

(5) the voter's effective date of registration if an initial certificate;

(6) the voter's registration number;

(7) an indication of the period for which the certificate is issued;

(8) a statement explaining the circumstances under which the voter will receive a new certificate;

(9) a space for stamping the voter's political party affiliation;

(10) a statement that voting with the certificate by a person other than the person in whose name the certificate is issued is a felony;

(11) a space for the voter's signature;

(12) a statement that the voter must sign the certificate personally, if able to sign, immediately on receipt;

(13) a space for the voter to correct the information on the certificate followed by a signature line;

(14) the statement: "If any information on this certificate changes or is incorrect, correct the information in the space provided, sign below, and return this certificate to the voter registrar.";

(15) the registrar's mailing address and telephone number; [and]

(16) the jurisdictional or distinguishing number for the following territorial units in which the voter resides, as determined by the voter registrar:

(A) congressional district;

(B) state senatorial district;

(C) state representative district;

(D) commissioners precinct;

(E) justice precinct;

(F) city election precinct; and

(G) school district election precinct; and

(17) an indication that the voter is a "veteran," if the voter stated on the voter's registration application that the voter served in the United States armed forces, including their reserve components, an auxiliary service of one of the branches of the armed forces, or the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code.

SECTION 5. Section 18.066(b), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) Information furnished under this section may not include:

(1) a voter's social security number; [or]

(2) the residence address of a voter whose residence address is confidential under Section 13.004; or

(3) the voter's status as a veteran, if the voter stated on the voter's registration application that the voter served in the United States armed forces, including their reserve components, an auxiliary service of one of the branches of the armed forces, or the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code.

SECTION 6. Section 521.011, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 521.011. SERVICES INFORMATION FOR VETERANS. (a) In this section, "veteran" means:

(1) a person who receives [The department and the Texas Veterans Commission shall jointly develop a one-page informational paper about veterans services provided by this state for veterans who receive]:

(A) [(1)] a driver's license with a designation under Section 521.1235; or

(B) [(2)] a personal identification certificate with a designation under Section 521.102; or

(2) a person who:

(A) served in the United States armed forces, including their reserve components, an auxiliary service of one of the branches of the armed forces, or the state military forces as defined by Section 437.001, Government Code; and

(B) did not request or is not eligible for a designation described by Subdivision (1).

(b) The department shall provide to each applicant for an original, renewal, corrected, or duplicate driver's license or personal identification certificate the opportunity to voluntarily indicate for the purposes of this section that the person is a veteran. The department shall acknowledge that:

(1) providing this information is optional; and

(2) this information will remain confidential and will be used only to:

(A) provide the applicant with a one-page informational paper about veterans services provided by this state; and

(B) provide notification of the applicant's veteran status to the Texas Veterans Commission, which may contact the applicant to connect the applicant with available services.

(c) The department and the Texas Veterans Commission shall jointly develop a process to enable the department to share with the Texas Veterans Commission a person's name, veteran status, and residence address received under Subsection (b). The Texas Veterans Commission may contact the person to connect the person with veterans services provided by this state. Information received by the department and the Texas Veterans Commission under this section is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.

(d) The department and the Texas Veterans Commission shall:

(1) jointly develop a one-page informational paper about veterans services provided by this state; and

(2) provide the informational paper to each person who voluntarily indicates to the department under Subsection (b) that the person is a veteran.

SECTION 7. Sections 521.102(c) and 521.1235(c), Transportation Code, are repealed.

SECTION 8. The change in law made by this Act to Section 13.122(a), Election Code, applies only to a voter registration application distributed on or after September 1, 2025. A voter registration application distributed before September 1, 2025, is covered by the law in effect when the application was distributed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 9. Section 521.011, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to an application for a driver's license or personal identification certificate issued or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. An application for a driver's license or personal identification certificate issued or renewed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the license or certificate was issued or renewed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.