| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the administration of elections, including the public |
|
|
inspection of certain election records. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 1.006, Election Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 1.006. EFFECT OF WEEKEND, [OR] HOLIDAY, OR FORCE |
|
|
MAJEURE. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Sections 1.006(a) and (f), Election Code, are |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) If the last day for performance of an act is a Saturday, |
|
|
Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, or the performance of |
|
|
the act is not possible because of an act of God, force majeure, or |
|
|
similar cause beyond the control of the person performing the act, |
|
|
the act is timely if performed on the next regular business day, |
|
|
except as otherwise provided by this code. |
|
|
(f) In this code: |
|
|
(1) "Force majeure" means a major event or combination |
|
|
of major events, including new or expanded state or federal |
|
|
statutory or regulatory requirements; hurricanes, tornadoes, ice |
|
|
storms, or other natural disasters; or acts of war, terrorism, or |
|
|
civil disturbance, beyond the control of this state. |
|
|
(2) "National holiday" means: |
|
|
(A) a legal public holiday under 5 U.S.C. Section |
|
|
6103; and |
|
|
(B) if a holiday described by Paragraph (A) |
|
|
occurs on a Saturday or Sunday, a holiday taken in lieu of that |
|
|
holiday on which there is no regular United States mail delivery. |
|
|
(3) [(2)] "State holiday" means a state holiday under |
|
|
Sections 662.003(b)(1) through (6), Government Code. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 1.007, Election Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
|
|
(c-1) If a delivery, submission, or filing under this code |
|
|
requires submission in person by a specific time, the delivery, |
|
|
submission, or filing shall be accepted if the person or document |
|
|
entered the office before the prescribed deadline. |
|
|
SECTION 4. Section 1.012, Election Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsection (g) and adding Subsections (i) and (j) to read |
|
|
as follows: |
|
|
(g) Beginning on the 300th [61st] day after election day, |
|
|
the general custodian of election records shall make available for |
|
|
public inspection election records that are original voted ballots. |
|
|
(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 552, Government Code, the |
|
|
following information is confidential and not subject to disclosure |
|
|
under that chapter if the disclosure of the information would |
|
|
violate the privacy of a voter's selections: |
|
|
(1) information on an electronic poll list, including |
|
|
any serial number or time stamp, indicating when a voter is accepted |
|
|
at a polling place; or |
|
|
(2) a voter's name and the ballot serial number |
|
|
included on the register of spoiled ballots. |
|
|
(j) A custodian may withhold information described by |
|
|
Subsection (i) without requesting a decision from the attorney |
|
|
general under Subchapter G, Chapter 552, Government Code. |
|
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |