Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB1044 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW .
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb1044
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 1044
8	8	G1 5lr2746
9	9	CF 5lr2749
10	10	By: Delegates Smith, R. Lewis, and Palakovich Carr
11	11	Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2025
12	12	Assigned to: Ways and Means
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2025 – Preclearance and Voter Intimidation and 2
19	19	Obstruction 3
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of requiring the Attorney General or the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel 4
22	22	County to review and grant preclearance to certain policies before enactment or 5
23	23	implementation; authorizing certain persons to file an action if the Attorney General 6
24	24	or the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County fails to properly carry out certain 7
25	25	provisions of this Act; prohibiting acts of intimidation or obstruction that interfere 8
26	26	with the right to vote; and generally relating to voting rights. 9
27	27
28	28	BY adding to 10
29	29	Article – Election Law 11
30	30	Section 15.5–101 through 15.5–301 to be under the new title “Title 15.5. Voting 12
31	31	Rights Act – Preclearance and Voter Intimidation and Obstruction” 13
32	32	Annotated Code of Maryland 14
33	33	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
34	34
35	35	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
36	36	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
37	37
38	38	Article – Election Law 18
39	39
40	40	TITLE 15.5. VOTING RIGHTS ACT – PRECLEARANCE AND VOTER INTIMIDATION 19
41	41	AND OBSTRUCTION. 20
42	42
43	43	SUBTITLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS. 21
44	44
45	45	15.5–101. 22
46	46
47	47	(A) IN THIS TITLE THE FOL LOWING WORDS HAVE TH E MEANINGS 23 2 HOUSE BILL 1044
48	48
49	49
50	50	INDICATED, UNLESS A DIFFERENT M EANING IS CLEARLY IN TENDED FROM THE 1
51	51	CONTEXT. 2
52	52
53	53	(B) “ATTORNEY GENERAL” MEANS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE 3
54	54	OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 4
55	55
56	56	(C) “COURT” MEANS THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. 5
57	57
58	58	(D) “COVERED JURISDICTION ” MEANS A LOCAL GOVERN MENT: 6
59	59
60	60	(1) THAT, WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE LY PRECEDING 25 YEARS, HAS 7
61	61	BECOME SUBJECT TO A COURT ORDER OR GOVER NMENT ENFORCEMENT AC TION 8
62	62	BASED ON A FINDING O F A VIOLATION OF THI S TITLE, THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS 9
63	63	ACT, THE 15TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, OR A VOTING–RELATED 10
64	64	VIOLATION OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION FOR 11
65	65	DISCRIMINATION AGAIN ST MEMBERS OF A PROT ECTED CLASS; 12
66	66
67	67	(2) THAT, WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE LY PRECEDING 25 YEARS, HAS 13
68	68	BECOME SUBJECT TO A COURT ORDER OR GOVER NMENT ENFORCEMENT AC TION 14
69	69	BASED ON A FINDING OF A VIOLA TION OF A FEDERAL OR STATE CIVIL RIGHTS LA W 15
70	70	OR THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION CONCERNI NG A PATTERN, 16
71	71	PRACTICE, OR POLICY THAT RESUL TED IN DISCRIMINATIO N AGAINST MEMBERS OF 17
72	72	A PROTECTED CLASS ; 18
73	73
74	74	(3) THAT, WITHIN THE IMMEDIAT ELY PRECEDING 25 YEARS, WAS 19
75	75	FOUND TO HAVE ENACTE D OR IMPLEMENTED A C OVERED POLICY WITHOU T 20
76	76	OBTAINING PRECLEARAN CE FOR THE COVERED POLICY UNDER THIS SUBTITLE; OR 21
77	77
78	78	(4) THAT CONTAINS AT LEA ST 6,000 CITIZENS OF ANY PROT ECTED 22
79	79	CLASS OF VOTING AGE, OR WHOSE MEMB ERS CONSTITUTE AT LEAST 15% OF THE 23
80	80	CITIZEN VOTING–AGE POPULATION OF TH E LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND WITHIN THE 24
81	81	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G 10 YEARS: 25
82	82
83	83	(I) THE PERCENTAGE OF TH E CITIZEN VOTING –AGE 26
84	84	POPULATION OF THE PR OTECTED CLASS THAT I S REGISTERED TO VOTE IS AT LEAST 27
85	85	10 PERCENTAGE POINTS LO WER THAN THE PERCENT AGE OF ALL CITIZENS OF 28
86	86	VOTING AGE THAT ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; 29
87	87
88	88	(II) THE PERCENTAGE OF THE CI TIZEN VOTING –AGE 30
89	89	POPULATION OF A PROTECTED CLASS THAT PARTICIPATED IN ANY GENERAL 31
90	90	ELECTION FOR LOCAL O FFICE, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE , LEGISLATIVE, JUDICIAL, 32
91	91	AND OTHER LOCAL OFFI CES, IS AT LEAST 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS LO WER THAN THE 33
92	92	PERCENTAGE OF ALL CI TIZENS OF VOTING AGE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE 34 HOUSE BILL 1044 3
93	93
94	94
95	95	GENERAL ELECTION ; OR 1
96	96
97	97	(III) HAS HAD A TRAFFIC STOP RATE OR THE COMBINED 2
98	98	MISDEMEANOR AND FELO NY ARREST RATE OF ME MBERS OF ANY PROTECT ED CLASS 3
99	99	THAT IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE RATE OF T HE WHOLE POPULATION OF THE 4
100	100	JURISDICTION. 5
101	101
102	102	(E) (1) “COVERED POLICY ” MEANS A NEW OR MODIF IED STANDARD , 6
103	103	PRACTICE, PROCEDUR E, LAW, ORDINANCE, REGULATION , OR POLICY THAT A 7
104	104	COVERED JURISDICTION IS REQUIRED TO SUBMI T FOR PRECLEARANCE . 8
105	105
106	106	(2) “COVERED POLICY ” INCLUDES:   9
107	107
108	108	(I) IF THE COVERED JURIS DICTION IS A MUNICIP ALITY: 10
109	109
110	110	1. THE METHOD OF ELECTI ON FOR THE GOVERNING 11
111	111	BODY; 12
112	112
113	113	2. DISTRICTING OR REDIS TRICTING; 13
114	114
115	115	3. THE NUMBER OF SEATS ON THE GOVERNING BOD Y; 14
116	116
117	117	4. ANNEXATION , INCORPORATION , DISSOLUTION, 15
118	118	CONSOLIDATION , OR DIVISION OF A MUN ICIPALITY; 16
119	119
120	120	5. THE TIMING OF MUNICI PAL ELECTIONS ; 17
121	121
122	122	6. VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS, INCLUDING THE 18
123	123	REMOVAL OF INDIVIDUA LS FROM A VOTER REGI STRATION LIST AND CA NCELLATION 19
124	124	OR DENIAL OF VOTER R EGISTRATION; 20
125	125
126	126	7. VOTER CHALLENGERS , WATCHERS, OR OBSERVERS ; 21
127	127
128	128	8. THE HOURS, LOCATIONS, OR NUMBER OF POLLING 22
129	129	PLACES, EARLY VOTING CENTERS , OR DROP BOX LOCATION S; 23
130	130
131	131	9. THE REORGANIZATION O F PRECINCTS; 24
132	132
133	133	10. THE DISTRIBUTION OF VOTING EQUIPMENT AND 25
134	134	STAFF, INCLUDING ELECTION J UDGES, TO POLLING PLACES AN D EARLY VOTING 26
135	135	CENTERS; AND 27
136	136
137	137	11. ANY ADDITIONAL SUBJE CT MATTER THAT MAY BE 28 4 HOUSE BILL 1044
138	138
139	139
140	140	IDENTIFIED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY REGULATION ; 1
141	141
142	142	(II) IF THE COVERED JURIS DICTION IS A COUNTY OR COUNTY 2
143	143	BOARD OF EDUCATION : 3
144	144
145	145	1. THE METHOD OF ELECTI ON FOR THE GOVERNING 4
146	146	BODY OF THE COVERED JURISDICTION; 5
147	147
148	148	2. DISTRICTING OR REDIS TRICTING; 6
149	149
150	150	3. THE NUMBER OF SEATS ON TH E GOVERNING BODY OF 7
151	151	THE COVERED JURISDIC TION; AND 8
152	152
153	153	4. ANY ADDITIONAL SUBJE CT MATTER THAT MAY BE 9
154	154	IDENTIFIED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY REGULATION ; AND 10
155	155
156	156	(III) A METHOD OF ELECTION OR A DISTRICTING PLA N IF A 11
157	157	COVERED JURISDICTION MAINTAINS THE METHOD OF ELECTION OR MAKES NO 12
158	158	REVISIONS TO THE DIS TRICTING PLAN AFTER A DECENNIAL CENSUS . 13
159	159
160	160	(F) “GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMEN T ACTION” MEANS A DENIAL OF 14
161	161	ADMINISTRATIVE OR JU DICIAL PRECLEARANCE BY THE FEDERAL OR STATE 15
162	162	GOVERNMENT , PENDING LITIGATION F ILED BY A FEDERAL OR STATE ENTITY, A 16
163	163	FINAL JUDGMENT OR AD JUDICATION, A CONSENT DECREE , OR A SIMILAR FORMAL 17
164	164	ACTION. 18
165	165
166	166	(G) “LOCAL GOVERNMENT ” MEANS: 19
167	167
168	168	(1) A MUNICIPALITY OR CO UNTY, AS THOSE TERMS ARE D EFINED IN § 20
169	169	1–101 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; OR 21
170	170
171	171	(2) A COUNTY BOARD OF ED UCATION, AS DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE 22
172	172	EDUCATION ARTICLE. 23
173	173
174	174	(H) “PRECLEARANCE ” MEANS THE REQUIREMEN T THAT A LOCAL 24
175	175	GOVERNMENT SUBMIT TH E PROPOSED ENACTMENT OR IMPLEMENTATION OF A 25
176	176	COVERED POLICY IN WR ITING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE COURT FOR 26
177	177	APPROVAL OR DENIAL . 27
178	178
179	179	SUBTITLE 2. PRECLEARANCE . 28
180	180
181	181	15.5–201. 29
182	182	HOUSE BILL 1044 5
183	183
184	184
185	185	(A) THE ENACTMENT OR IMPL EMENTATION OF A COVE RED POLICY BY A 1
186	186	COVERED JURISDICTION IS SUBJECT TO PRECLE ARANCE BY: 2
187	187
188	188	(1) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, UNDER § 15.5–203 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 3
189	189	OR 4
190	190
191	191	(2) THE COURT, UNDER § 15.5–205 OF THIS SUBTITLE.  5
192	192
193	193	(B) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THA T IS NOT A COVERED J URISDICTION MAY 6
194	194	SUBMIT A PROPOSED PO LICY FOR PRECLEARANCE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 7
195	195	UNDER § 15.5–203 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8
196	196
197	197	15.5–202. 9
198	198
199	199	(A) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2026, AND AT LEAST ANNUALL Y 10
200	200	THEREAFTER , THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL DETERMI NE WHICH LOCAL 11
201	201	GOVERNMENTS ARE COVE RED JURISDICTIONS . 12
202	202
203	203	(B) A STATE AGENCY OR OTHER APPROPRIATE ENTITY S HALL TRANSMIT TO 13
204	204	THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANY DATA OR INFORMAT ION IN A USABLE FORMAT THAT 14
205	205	THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONSIDERS NEC ESSARY TO MAKE THE D ETERMINATION 15
206	206	UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 16
207	207
208	208	(C) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL : 17
209	209
210	210	(1) AS SOON AS PRACTICAB LE, PUBLISH AND MAINTAIN A LIST OF 18
211	211	LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE COVERED JURISDICTION S ON THE WEBSITE OF 19
212	212	THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; AND 20
213	213
214	214	(2) PROVIDE NOTICE TO EACH LOCAL GOVERNMEN T THAT IS A 21
215	215	COVERED JURISDICTION . 22
216	216
217	217	15.5–203. 23
218	218
219	219	(A) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL : 24
220	220
221	221	(1) REVIEW A COVERED POL ICY SUBMITTED FOR PRECLEARANCE , 25
222	222	INCLUDING ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING T HE COVERED POLICY ; AND 26
223	223
224	224	(2) MAKE A DETERMINATION TO DENY OR GRANT PRE CLEARANCE 27
225	225	FOR THE COVERED POLI CY. 28
226	226
227	227	(B) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY DENY PREC LEARANCE ONLY IF IT 29 6 HOUSE BILL 1044
228	228
229	229
230	230	DETERMINES THAT THE COVERED POL ICY IS MORE LIKELY T HAN NOT TO: 1
231	231
232	232	(1) DIMINISH THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OR ABILI TY OF PROTECTED 2
233	233	CLASS MEMBERS WHO AR E THE BASIS FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ’S 3
234	234	PRECLEARANCE COVERAG E STATUS UNDER THIS SUBTITLE TO PARTICIP ATE IN THE 4
235	235	POLITICAL PROCESS OR NOMINATE OR ELECT CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE; OR 5
236	236
237	237	(2) VIOLATE THIS TITLE . 6
238	238
239	239	(C) (1) IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GRANTS PRECLE ARANCE, THE 7
240	240	APPLICABLE COVERED J URISDICTION MAY ENAC T OR IMPLEMENT THE C OVERED 8
241	241	POLICY. 9
242	242
243	243	(2) IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DENIES PRECLE ARANCE: 10
244	244
245	245	(I) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL PROVIDE A WRIT TEN 11
246	246	EXPLANATION OF THE D ENIAL; AND 12
247	247
248	248	(II) THE APPLICABLE COVER ED JURISDICTION MAY NOT ENACT 13
249	249	OR IMPLEMENT THE COV ERED POLICY. 14
250	250
251	251	(3) IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FAILS TO RESP OND WITHIN THE 15
252	252	REQUIRED TIME PERIOD UNDER § 15.5–204 OF THIS SUBTITLE, PRECLEARANCE FOR 16
253	253	THE COVERED POLICY S HALL BE DEEMED GRANT ED AND THE APPLICABL E 17
254	254	JURISDICTION MAY ENA CT OR IMPLEMENT THE COVERED POLICY . 18
255	255
256	256	(D) (1) A DENIAL OF PRECLEARAN CE UNDER THIS SECTIO N MAY BE 19
257	257	APPEALED ONLY BY THE COVERED JURISDICTION TO THE APPELLATE COURT OF 20
258	258	MARYLAND. 21
259	259
260	260	(2) A PARTY OTHER THAN THE COVERED JURISDICTION MAY NOT 22
261	261	FILE AN ACTION TO AP PEAL A DENIAL OF PRE CLEARANCE OR INTERVE NE IN AN 23
262	262	APPEAL ACTION BROUGH T BY THE COVERED JUR ISDICTION. 24
263	263
264	264	(E) IN A PRECLEARANCE DETERMINATION SUBMIT TED TO THE ATTORNEY 25
265	265	GENERAL, THE COVERED JURISDIC TION SHALL BEAR THE BURDEN OF PROOF . 26
266	266
267	267	15.5–204. 27
268	268
269	269	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION A ND EXCEPT 28
270	270	AS PROVIDED IN SUBSE CTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE 29
271	271	RECEIPT OF A COVERED POLICY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL : 30
272	272	HOUSE BILL 1044 7
273	273
274	274
275	275	(I) REVIEW THE COVERED P OLICY, INCLUDING ANY PUBLIC 1
276	276	COMMENTS REGARDING T HE COVERED POLICY; AND 2
277	277
278	278	(II) MAKE A DETERMINATION TO DENY OR GRANT 3
279	279	PRECLEARANCE FOR THE COVERED POLICY .  4
280	280
281	281	(2) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY INVOKE AN EXTENSION OF UP TO 5
282	282	60 DAYS TO MAKE A DETER MINATION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. 6
283	283
284	284	(B) (1) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES ONLY TO A COVERED POLICY 7
285	285	REGARDING: 8
286	286
287	287	(I) CHANGES TO THE METHO D OF ELECTION FOR A GOVERNING 9
288	288	BODY; 10
289	289
290	290	(II) DISTRICTING OR REDISTRICTING ; 11
291	291
292	292	(III) THE NUMBER OF SEATS ON A GOVERNING BODY ; OR 12
293	293
294	294	(IV) ANNEXATION , INCORPORATION , DISSOLUTION, 13
295	295	CONSOLIDATION , OR DIVISION OF A LOC AL GOVERNMENT . 14
296	296
297	297	(2) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION A ND WITHIN 15
298	298	60 DAYS AFTER THE SUBMISSION OF THE CO VERED POLICY , THE ATTORNEY 16
299	299	GENERAL SHALL : 17
300	300
301	301	(I) REVIEW A COVERED POL ICY SUBJECT TO THIS SUBSECTION 18
302	302	AND ANY PUBLIC COMME NTS REGARDING THE CO VERED POLICY; AND 19
303	303
304	304	(II) MAKE A DETERMINATION TO DENY OR GRANT 20
305	305	PRECLEARANCE FOR THE COVERED P OLICY. 21
306	306
307	307	(3) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY INVOKE UP TO TWO EXTENSIONS 22
308	308	OF UP TO 90 DAYS TO MAKE A DETER MINATION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. 23
309	309
310	310	15.5–205. 24
311	311
312	312	(A) AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRECLEARANCE THROUGH THE ATTORNEY 25
313	313	GENERAL UNDER § 15.5–203 OF THIS SUBTITLE , A COVERED JURISDICTION MAY 26
314	314	SUBMIT A COVERED POL ICY TO THE COURT FOR PRECLEARANC E. 27
315	315
316	316	(B) TO HAVE A COVERED POL ICY BE CONSIDERED FO R PRECLEARANCE 28
317	317	UNDER THIS SECTION , THE COVERED JURISDIC TION SHALL: 29 8 HOUSE BILL 1044
318	318
319	319
320	320
321	321	(1) SUBMIT IN WRITING TH E COVERED POLICY TO THE COURT; AND 1
322	322
323	323	(2) CONTEMPORANEOUSLY TR ANSMIT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 2
324	324	A COPY OF THE COVERE D POLICY SUBMITTED T O THE COURT UNDER ITEM (1) OF 3
325	325	THIS SUBSECTION . 4
326	326
327	327	(C) THE COURT SHALL EXERCISE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTI ON OVER A 5
328	328	COVERED POLICY THAT IS SUBMITTED AND TRA NSMITTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH 6
329	329	SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION. 7
330	330
331	331	(D) THE COURT SHALL GRANT OR DENY PRECLEARANCE WI THIN 60 DAYS 8
332	332	FOLLOWING THE RECEIP T OF THE SUBMISSION OF THE COVERED POLIC Y. 9
333	333
334	334	(E) THE COURT MAY DENY PRECLE ARANCE ONLY IF IT DE TERMINES THAT 10
335	335	THE COVERED PO LICY IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT TO: 11
336	336
337	337	(1) DIMINISH THE OPPORTUNITY OR A BILITY OF PROTECTED CLASS 12
338	338	MEMBERS WHO ARE THE BASIS FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ’S PRECLEARANCE 13
339	339	COVERAGE STATUS UNDE R THIS SUBTITLE TO P ARTICIPATE IN THE PO LITICAL 14
340	340	PROCESS OR NOMINATE OR ELECT CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE; OR 15
341	341
342	342	(2) VIOLATE THIS TITLE . 16
343	343
344	344	(F) (1) IF THE COURT GRANTS PRECLEAR ANCE, THE APPLICABLE 17
345	345	COVERED JURISDICTION MAY ENACT OR IMPLEME NT THE COVERED POLIC Y. 18
346	346
347	347	(2) IF THE COURT DENIES PRECLEAR ANCE, THE COVERED POLICY 19
348	348	MAY NOT BE ENACTED OR IMPLEM ENTED.  20
349	349
350	350	(3) IF THE COURT FAILS TO GRANT OR DENY PRECLEARANCE WITHIN 21
351	351	60 DAYS, THE COVERED JURISDIC TION MAY NOT ENACT O R IMPLEMENT THE 22
352	352	COVERED POLICY .  23
353	353
354	354	(G) (1) A DENIAL OF PRECLEARAN CE UNDER THIS SECTIO N MAY BE 24
355	355	APPEALED ONLY BY THE COVERED JURISDICTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HE 25
356	356	ORDINARY RULES OF AP PELLATE PROCEDURE . 26
357	357
358	358	(2) A PARTY OTHER THAN THE COVERED JURISDICTION MAY NOT 27
359	359	FILE AN ACTION TO AP PEAL A DENIAL OF PRE CLEARANCE OR INTERVE NE IN AN 28
360	360	APPEAL ACTION BROUGH T BY THE COVERED JUR ISDICTION. 29
361	361
362	362	15.5–206. 30 HOUSE BILL 1044 9
363	363
364	364
365	365
366	366	IF A COVERED JURISDIC TION ENACTS OR IMPLE MENTS A COVERED POLI CY 1
367	367	WITHOUT FIRST OBTAIN ING PRECLEARANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE, 2
368	368	THE FOLLOWING PERSON S MAY FILE AN ACTION IN THE COURT TO ENJOIN THE 3
369	369	ENACTMENT OR IMPLEME NTATION OF A COVERED POLICY AND S EEK SANCTIONS : 4
370	370
371	371	(1) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON ; 5
372	372
373	373	(2) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE S OR IS LIKELY 6
374	374	TO INCLUDE AGGRIEVED PERSONS; 7
375	375
376	376	(3) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MISSION WOULD BE F RUSTRATED BY A 8
377	377	VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; 9
378	378
379	379	(4) AN ORGANIZATION THAT WO ULD EXPEND RESOURCES IN ORDER 10
380	380	TO FULFILL ITS MISSI ON AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; OR 11
381	381
382	382	(5) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 12
383	383
384	384	15.5–207. 13
385	385
386	386	(A) AN ACTION UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE BROUG HT IF: 14
387	387
388	388	(1) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE COURT HAS APPROVED 15
389	389	PRECLEARANCE FOR A COVERED POLICY IN VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE; 16
390	390
391	391	(2) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS IDENTIFIE D A LIST OF COVERED 17
392	392	JURISDICTIONS THAT I S INCONSISTENT WITH THIS SUBTITLE; OR 18
393	393
394	394	(3) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS FAILED TO PROPERLY IMPLEMENT 19
395	395	THIS SUBTITLE. 20
396	396
397	397	(B) THE FOLLOWING PERSONS MAY FILE AN ACTION U NDER THIS SECTION : 21
398	398
399	399	(1) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON ; 22
400	400
401	401	(2) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE S OR IS LIKELY 23
402	402	TO INCLUDE AGGRIEVED PERSONS; 24
403	403
404	404	(3) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MISSION WOUL D BE FRUSTRATED BY A 25
405	405	VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE; OR 26
406	406
407	407	(4) AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD EXPEND RESOURC ES IN ORDER 27 10 HOUSE BILL 1044
408	408
409	409
410	410	TO FULFILL ITS MISSI ON AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE. 1
411	411
412	412	(C) IN AN ACTION UNDER THIS SE CTION, THE COURT: 2
413	413
414	414	(1) SHALL EVALUATE THE CLAIMS ON A DE NOVO BASIS AND MAY NOT 3
415	415	GIVE DEFERENCE TO TH E ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE COURT; 4
416	416
417	417	(2) MAY PROVIDE INJUNCTI VE RELIEF OR ORDER ANY OTHER 5
418	418	ADEQUATE REMEDY ; AND 6
419	419
420	420	(3) MAY STAY THE IMPLEME NTATION OF A COVERED POLICY UNTIL 7
421	421	THE COURT MAKES A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER PRECLEARANCE SHOULD 8
422	422	HAVE BEEN GRANTED . 9
423	423
424	424	(D) AN ACTION FILED UNDER THIS SECTION DOES NO T LIMIT ANY OTHER 10
425	425	CLAIMS THAT MAY BE B ROUGHT REGARDING A COVERED POLICY, INCLUDING 11
426	426	CLAIMS UNDER THIS TITLE. 12
427	427
428	428	15.5–208. 13
429	429
430	430	THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS 14
431	431	SUBTITLE, INCLUDING: 15
432	432
433	433	(1) THE CONTENT OF AND P ROCEDURE FOR PRECLEA RANCE 16
434	434	SUBMISSIONS; AND 17
435	435
436	436	(2) PROCEDURES FOR : 18
437	437
438	438	(I) PUBLIC COMMENT AND T RANSPARENCY FOR 19
439	439	PRECLEARANCE DETERMI NATIONS; AND 20
440	440
441	441	(II) EXPEDITED OR EMERGEN CY PRECLEARANCE 21
442	442	DETERMINATIONS . 22
443	443
444	444	SUBTITLE 3. PROHIBITION OF VOTER INTIMIDATION AND OBSTRUCTION. 23
445	445
446	446	15.5–301. 24
447	447
448	448	(A) A PERSON, WHETHER ACTING UNDER COLOR OF LAW OR OTHE RWISE, 25
449	449	MAY NOT ENGAGE IN AC TS OF INTIMIDATION , DECEPTION, OR OBSTRUCTION THAT 26
450	450	INTERFERE WITH AN IN DIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE. 27
451	451
452	452	(B) THE FOLLOWING SHALL C ONSTITUTE A VIOLATIO N OF SUBSECTION (A) 28 HOUSE BILL 1044 11
453	453
454	454
455	455	OF THIS SECTION: 1
456	456
457	457	(1) THE USE OF FORCE OR THREATS TO USE FORCE , OR THE USE OF 2
458	458	ANY OTHER CONDUCT TO PRACTICE INTIMIDATIO N THAT CAUSES OR WILL 3
459	459	REASONABLY HAVE THE EFFECT OF CAUSING IN TERFERENCE WITH AN 4
460	460	INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE; 5
461	461
462	462	(2) THE KNOWING USE OF A DECEPTIVE OR FRAUDUL ENT DEVICE, 6
463	463	CONTRIVANCE , OR COMMUNICATION THA T CAUSES OR WILL REA SONABLY HAVE THE 7
464	464	EFFECT OF CAUSING IN TERFERENCE WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE; OR 8
465	465
466	466	(3) THE OBSTRUCTION OF , IMPEDIMENT TO , OR OTHER 9
467	467	INTERFEREN CE WITH ACCESS TO A POLLING PLACE , A BALLOT DROP BOX , OR AN 10
468	468	OFFICE OR A PLACE OF BUSINESS OF AN ELECT ION OFFICIAL OR A VO TER IN A 11
469	469	MANNER THAT CAUSES O R WILL REASONABLY HA VE THE EFFECT OF CAU SING 12
470	470	INTERFERENCE WITH AN Y INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE OR A NY DELAY IN VOTING 13
471	471	OR THE VOTING PROCES S. 14
472	472
473	473	(C) THE FOLLOWING PERSONS MAY FILE AN ACTION A LLEGING A VIOLATION 15
474	474	OF THIS SECTION IN T HE COURT: 16
475	475
476	476	(1) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON ; 17
477	477
478	478	(2) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE S OR IS LIKELY 18
479	479	TO INCLUDE AGGRIEVED PERSONS; 19
480	480
481	481	(3) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MISSION WOULD BE F RUSTRATED BY A 20
482	482	VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION; 21
483	483
484	484	(4) AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD EXPEND RESOURC ES IN ORDER 22
485	485	TO FULFILL ITS MISSI ON AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION; OR 23
486	486
487	487	(5) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 24
488	488
489	489	(D) (1) (I) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER LAW, IF THE COURT FINDS 25
490	490	A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, THE COURT SHALL ORDER APP ROPRIATE REMEDIES 26
491	491	THAT ARE TAILORED TO ADDRESS THE VIOLATIO N. 27
492	492
493	493	(II) THE REMEDIES ORDERED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF 28
494	494	THIS PARAGRAPH MAY I NCLUDE PROVIDING FOR ADDITI ONAL TIME TO VOTE 29
495	495	DURING AN ELECTION . 30
496	496
497	497	(2) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION OR WHO AIDS IN THE 31 12 HOUSE BILL 1044
498	498
499	499
500	500	VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION SHALL BE LIABL E FOR ANY DAMAGES AW ARDED BY THE 1
501	501	COURT, INCLUDING NOMINAL DA MAGES FOR ANY VIOLAT ION AND COMPENSA TORY 2
502	502	OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES FOR ANY WILLFUL VIOL ATION. 3
503	503
504	504	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4
505	505	January 1, 2026. 5