Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1612 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R9718 SLB-D
2	2	By: Hall S.B. No. 1612
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to certain suits involving elections and the
8	8	confidentiality of certain communications with voting systems
9	9	vendors.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Chapter 121, Election Code, is amended by adding
12	12	Section 121.004 to read as follows:
13	13	Sec. 121.004. COMMUNICATIONS WITH VOTING SYSTEMS VENDOR
14	14	PUBLIC INFORMATION. Notwithstanding any other law, including
15	15	Chapter 552, Government Code, a written letter, e-mail, or other
16	16	communication, including a communication made confidential by
17	17	other law, between a public official and a voting systems vendor:
18	18	(1) is not confidential;
19	19	(2) is public information for purposes of Chapter 552,
20	20	Government Code; and
21	21	(3) is not subject to an exception to disclosure
22	22	provided by Chapter 552, Government Code.
23	23	SECTION 2. The heading to Subchapter D, Chapter 273,
24	24	Election Code, is amended to read as follows:
25	25	SUBCHAPTER D. MANDAMUS [BY APPELLATE COURT]
26	26	SECTION 3. Section 273.061, Election Code, is amended to
27	27	read as follows:
28	28	Sec. 273.061. JURISDICTION. (a) The supreme court or a
29	29	court of appeals may issue a writ of mandamus to compel the
30	30	performance of any duty imposed by law in connection with the
31	31	holding of a statewide [an] election, an election for the office of
32	32	state senator or state representative, or a political party
33	33	convention, regardless of whether the person responsible for
34	34	performing the duty is a public officer.
35	35	(b) A district court may issue a writ of mandamus to compel
36	36	the performance of any duty imposed by law in connection with the
37	37	holding of an election by a municipality, county, or other
38	38	political subdivision.
39	39	SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 273, Election Code, is
40	40	amended by adding Section 273.064 to read as follows:
41	41	Sec. 273.064. VENUE IN DISTRICT COURT. (a) A petition to a
42	42	district court for a writ of mandamus under this subchapter must be
43	43	filed in a district court in Travis County or in the county in which
44	44	the election was held or is to be held.
45	45	(b) For an election held or to be held by a political
46	46	subdivision other than a municipality or county, a petition filed
47	47	under this section may be filed in Travis County or in any county
48	48	that contains a portion of the territory of the political
49	49	subdivision.
50	50	SECTION 5. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Government Code, is
51	51	amended by adding Section 22.023 to read as follows:
52	52	Sec. 22.023. PREFERENCE FOR HEARINGS OR TRIALS RELATED TO
53	53	ELECTIONS. The supreme court shall give preference to a hearing or
54	54	trial related to the conduct of an election.
55	55	SECTION 6. Subchapter C, Chapter 22, Government Code, is
56	56	amended by adding Section 22.229 to read as follows:
57	57	Sec. 22.229. PREFERENCE FOR HEARINGS OR TRIALS RELATED TO
58	58	ELECTIONS. A court of appeals shall give preference to a hearing or
59	59	trial related to the conduct of an election.
60	60	SECTION 7. Section 23.101, Government Code, is amended by
61	61	adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
62	62	(e) The trial courts of this state shall give preference to
63	63	a hearing or trial related to the conduct of an election, above the
64	64	preference described by Subsection (a).
65	65	SECTION 8. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
66	66	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
67	67	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
68	68	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
69	69	Act takes effect September 1, 2021.