H.B. No. 574 AN ACT relating to the creation of criminal offenses involving elections. 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. OTHER ELECTION OFFENSES. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally makes any effort to: (1) count votes the person knows are invalid or alter a report to include votes the person knows are invalid; or (2) refuse to count votes the person knows are valid or alter a report to exclude votes the person knows are valid. (b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 574 was passed by the House on April 16, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 95, Nays 49, 1 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 574 on May 18, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 94, Nays 48, 1 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 574 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 12, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 9. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor