BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2057 87R5471 MLH-F By: Klick (Zaffirini) State Affairs 5/14/2021 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Currently, counties redraw election precinct lines in the spring of odd-numbered years, with the changes taking effect on January 1 of an election year. Most campaigns get started well before that, which creates the possibility of candidates having the lines changed two months before the primary. What's more, the voter registration roll maintained by the secretary of state does not immediately include updated district information after the changes take effect. Although the Texas Legislative Council creates a precinct file that includes district numbers, this process takes months to complete. H.B. 2057 would address these issues by requiring counties to redraw precincts in even-numbered years and making boundary changes effective in the following odd-numbered year, ensuring that boundaries do not change shortly before an election. H.B. 2057 amends current law relating to the timing of changes to county election precincts. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 42.031(a), Election Code, as follows: (a) Requires each commissioners court, during March or April of each even-numbered year, rather than each odd-numbered year, to determine whether the county election precincts comply with Sections 42.005 (Relationship to Districts and Justice and Commissioners Precincts), 42.006 (Population Requirements), and 42.007 (Combining Incorporated and Unincorporated Territory). Deletes text authorizing the commissioners court to make that determination during March or April of an even-numbered year. SECTION 2. Amends Section 42.033(a), Election Code, to make conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2021.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2057
87R5471 MLH-F By: Klick (Zaffirini)
State Affairs
5/14/2021
Engrossed
Senate Research Center
H.B. 2057
87R5471 MLH-F
By: Klick (Zaffirini)
State Affairs
5/14/2021
Engrossed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, counties redraw election precinct lines in the spring of odd-numbered years, with the changes taking effect on January 1 of an election year. Most campaigns get started well before that, which creates the possibility of candidates having the lines changed two months before the primary. What's more, the voter registration roll maintained by the secretary of state does not immediately include updated district information after the changes take effect. Although the Texas Legislative Council creates a precinct file that includes district numbers, this process takes months to complete.
H.B. 2057 would address these issues by requiring counties to redraw precincts in even-numbered years and making boundary changes effective in the following odd-numbered year, ensuring that boundaries do not change shortly before an election.
H.B. 2057 amends current law relating to the timing of changes to county election precincts.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 42.031(a), Election Code, as follows:
(a) Requires each commissioners court, during March or April of each even-numbered year, rather than each odd-numbered year, to determine whether the county election precincts comply with Sections 42.005 (Relationship to Districts and Justice and Commissioners Precincts), 42.006 (Population Requirements), and 42.007 (Combining Incorporated and Unincorporated Territory). Deletes text authorizing the commissioners court to make that determination during March or April of an even-numbered year.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 42.033(a), Election Code, to make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2021.