Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB509

Voted on by House
 
Out of Senate Committee
 
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to the authority of certain entities and individuals to prevent individuals from accessing private property for the purpose of registering voters or communicating political messages.

Impact

The bill amends Chapter 276 of the Election Code by adding specific provisions that protect the right of individuals to reach out to occupants of residential properties for these political purposes. This is significant as it expands access for voter registration efforts and political outreach, potentially enhancing civic participation and democratic processes. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, which provides time for stakeholders to adjust to this change in law and for communities to understand the implications of these new rights regarding political communication.

Summary

House Bill 509 addresses the authority of certain entities to regulate access to private property for voter registration and political messaging purposes. Specifically, the bill prohibits political subdivisions, property owners' associations, homeowners' associations, and property managers from implementing rules or policies that prevent individuals from approaching residential units to assist with voter registration or to communicate political messages. The legislation aims to facilitate voter engagement and ensure that residents have the opportunity to receive information regarding candidates and political initiatives at their doorsteps.

Contention

Notably, the bill allows for reasonable restrictions regarding the time, place, or manner of such activities, which introduces a level of flexibility for property associations and managers to maintain order and respect for individual privacy while also accommodating political engagement. However, this provision may lead to disputes regarding what constitutes a 'reasonable' restriction, as interpretations could vary significantly across different communities. Law enforcement and private parties are similarly restricted from preventing these political activities unless they pose a legitimate threat, further contextualizing the balance the bill aims to strike between free speech and property rights.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Election Code

  • Chapter 276. Miscellaneous Offenses And Other Provisions
    • Section: New Section

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HB378

Relating to the authority of certain entities and individuals to prevent individuals from accessing private property for the purpose of registering voters or communicating political messages.

TX HB4854

Relating to the authority of individuals over the personal identifying information collected, processed, or maintained about the individuals and certain others by certain businesses.

TX HB3002

Relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to issue certificates of obligation.

TX HB2519

Relating to law enforcement misconduct and law enforcement interactions with certain detained or arrested individuals and other members of the public, to public entity liability for those interactions, and to the confinement, conviction, or release of detained or arrested individuals.

TX HB2715

Relating to a prohibition on following an individual and tracking or monitoring the individual's personal property or motor vehicle and to the criminal prosecution of that conduct.

TX HJR87

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to limit the maximum appraised value of residential real property for ad valorem tax purposes to 105 percent or more of the appraised value of the property for the preceding tax year, to exempt from ad valorem taxation the total appraised value of property purchased by an individual for the first tax year the individual qualifies the property as the individual's residence homestead if the property is the individual's first residence homestead and has an appraised value of less than $300,000, and to limit the total amount of ad valorem taxes that a political subdivision may impose on the residence homestead of an individual and the surviving spouse of the individual if the individual qualifies the property as the individual's residence homestead for at least 25 consecutive tax years.

TX HB2545

Relating to an individual's genetic data, including the use of that data by certain genetic testing companies for commercial purposes and the individual's property right in DNA; authorizing a civil penalty.

TX SB997

Relating to the publication of certain photographs of human remains by certain individuals for a purpose other than an authorized purpose; providing a civil penalty.

TX SB571

Relating to interactions between law enforcement and individuals detained or arrested on suspicion of the commission of criminal offenses, witnesses to the commission of those offenses, and other members of the public, to peace officer liability for those interactions, and to the confinement, conviction, or release of detained or arrested individuals.

TX HB272

Relating to the terminology used to refer to certain disabilities and to an individualized education team for purposes of determining a student's eligibility for special education services and providing those services in public schools.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.