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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to voter registration. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) A person desiring to register to vote must submit an |
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application and proof of citizenship as required under Subsection |
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(a-1) to the registrar of the county in which the person |
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resides. Except as provided by Subsection (e), an application must |
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be submitted by personal delivery, by mail, or by telephonic |
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facsimile machine in accordance with Sections 13.143(d) and (d-2). |
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(a-1) To the extent permitted by the National Voter |
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Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Section 20501 et seq.) and |
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Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., 570 U.S. 1 (2013), , 570 U.S. 1 (2013), |
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the secretary of state shall prescribe rules that require a person |
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to submit to the registrar proof of citizenship to determine voter |
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eligibility. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 13.0022 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.0022. NOTICE TO PRESENT PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP FOR |
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APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY MAIL OR BY TELEPHONIC FACSIMILE MACHINE. |
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(a) This section applies only to a registration application |
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submitted by mail or by telephonic facsimile machine. |
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(b) On receipt of a registration application, the registrar |
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shall transmit a notice to the applicant of any requirements |
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prescribed by the secretary of state under Section 13.002(a-1) and |
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include instructions to enable the applicant to satisfy those |
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requirements. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 18, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 18.014 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 18.014. AVAILABILITY OF REAL PROPERTY INFORMATION. |
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(a) For the purpose of maintaining a list of registered voters, the |
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secretary of state, a registrar, or a private entity contracted |
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with the secretary under Section 18.0625 may use publicly available |
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real estate records, information on zoning regulations in this |
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state, and any other relevant real property data to: |
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(1) verify that a voter's residence address |
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corresponds to a residential property; and |
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(2) identify any residence address of a voter that |
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appears not to correspond to a residential property, including a |
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vacant lot or commercial property. |
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(b) If the secretary of state or a registrar determines that |
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a voter on a list of registered voters has a residence address that |
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does not correspond to a residential property, the secretary or |
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registrar shall deliver a written confirmation notice to the voter |
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in accordance with Section 15.051. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 18, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 18.0625 and 18.0626 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 18.0625. THIRD-PARTY STATEWIDE COMPUTERIZED VOTER |
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REGISTRATION LIST CONTRACT. (a) The secretary of state may contract |
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with one or more private entities to assist the secretary in |
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maintaining the statewide voter registration list by: |
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(1) comparing voter information on the statewide voter |
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registration list with information on the National Change of |
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Address database; |
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(2) comparing voter information from other states to |
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identify voters registered to vote in more than one state; |
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(3) reviewing information regarding individuals who |
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have moved into or out of this state; and |
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(4) recommending to the secretary of state for removal |
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from the statewide voter registration list any voter identified |
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under a criteria described by Subdivisions (1)-(3) who may no |
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longer be eligible or who may have duplicate registrations. |
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(b) A contract entered into with a private entity under |
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Subsection (a) must: |
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(1) include provisions related to the security and |
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confidentiality of a voter's information; |
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(2) comply with all state and federal laws relating to |
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the protection of personal information and election integrity; and |
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(3) provide reasonable compensation to the private |
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entity from money made available to the secretary of state for that |
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purpose. |
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(c) The secretary of state shall provide a county voter |
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registrar any information provided to the secretary by a system |
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provider contracted with the secretary under this section regarding |
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a voter registered to vote in the registrar's county. |
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Sec. 18.0626. THIRD-PARTY MAIL NOTIFICATION TO REGISTRAR. |
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(a) An entity that contracts with the secretary of state under |
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Section 18.0625 shall provide a registrar by mail any information |
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on a voter registered to vote in the registrar's county who the |
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entity determines: |
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(1) is not a citizen of the United States; |
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(2) does not reside at the voter's residence address; |
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or |
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(3) is otherwise not qualified to vote under Section |
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11.002. |
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(b) The information provided to a registrar under |
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Subsection (a) must include the specific grounds for which the |
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entity claims the voter is not eligible to vote and any relevant |
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supporting documentation. |
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(c) A registrar shall review any information provided under |
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this section and, if the registrar determines that reasonable |
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grounds exist to believe the voter is not eligible to vote, deliver |
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a written confirmation notice to the voter in accordance with |
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Section 15.051. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the |
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secretary of state shall request that the federal Election |
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Assistance Commission alter the mail voter registration |
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application form requirements described in the National Voter |
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Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Section 20501 et seq.) to |
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include a requirement that applicants submit documented proof of |
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citizenship as a condition to registration in Texas. |
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(b) If the commission fails to comply before the 180th day |
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following the secretary of state's request under this section, the |
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attorney general shall seek enforcement in a court of law. |
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SECTION 6. Section 13.0022, Election Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to an application for voter registration |
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submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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application for voter registration submitted before the effective |
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date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the |
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application was submitted, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |