86R12970 BRG-D
By: Bucy H.B. No. 3711
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of peace officers and private parties to
prevent individuals from accessing private property for the purpose
of registering voters or communicating political messages.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 276, Election Code, is amended by adding
Section 276.014 to read as follows:
Sec. 276.014. DOOR TO DOOR POLITICAL MESSAGING. (a) In this
section, "residential unit" includes a single-family house, a
single-family house located in a residential subdivision or housing
development, an apartment, a condominium, or another unit in a
multifamily residential structure.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a peace officer or
private party may not prevent an individual from knocking on the
front door of a residential unit, ringing the doorbell of the unit,
or leaving a pamphlet, flier, or other form of written
communication at the unit for the purpose of:
(1) assisting an occupant of the unit with registering
to vote; or
(2) communicating to an occupant of the unit support
or opposition for:
(A) a candidate for nomination or election to
public office or office of a political party;
(B) a political party; or
(C) a measure, as defined by Section 251.001.
(c) A peace officer may prevent an individual from engaging
in an activity under Subsection (b) if necessary to enforce a
criminal statute or a reasonable restriction on the time, place, or
manner of the activity.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.