By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 511

(In the Senate - Filed November 25, 2024; February 3, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; April 7, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 7, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 511 By: Bettencourt

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibiting an officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state from distributing certain voter registration application forms; creating a criminal offense.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows:

Sec. 13.009. DISTRIBUTION OF APPLICATION; OFFENSE. (a) Except as otherwise provided by a provision of this code, including provisions of this chapter and Chapter 20, an officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state may not distribute a form on which a person may apply for registration to a person who did not request it.

(b) An officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state may not use public funds to facilitate the distribution by another person of a form the officer or employee would be prohibited from distributing under Subsection (a).

(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a political party or a candidate for office may distribute a form described by Subsection (a) to a person who did not request it.

(d) An officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state commits an offense if the officer or employee violates Subsection (a) or (b).

(e) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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