By: Landgraf H.B. No. 219
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a person submitting proof of citizenship to verify
eligibility to vote in Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to
read as follows:
(a) A person desiring to register to vote must submit an
application and proof of citizenship as required under Subsection
(a-1) to the registrar of the county in which the person resides.
Except as provided by Subsection (e), an application must be
submitted by personal delivery, by mail, or by telephonic facsimile
machine in accordance with Sections 13.143(d) and (d-2).
(a-1) An applicant submitting a registration application
must present proof that the applicant is a United States citizen to:
(1) the registrar, if the application is submitted by
personal delivery; or
(2) a Department of Public Safety employee at the
department's office, if the application is submitted by mail or by
telephonic facsimile machine.
(a-2) For purposes of Subsection (a-1), the applicant shall
present any of the following:
(1) the applicant's Texas driver's license that is
compliant with the federal REAL ID program;
(2) the applicant's Texas identification card that is
compliant with the federal REAL ID program;
(3) an original or certified copy of the applicant's
birth certificate;
(4) the applicant's unexpired United States passport
or card;
(5) the applicant's certificate of naturalization
issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services;
or
(6) the applicant's certificate of citizenship issued
by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 13.0022 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.0022. NOTICE TO PRESENT PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP FOR
APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY MAIL OR BY TELEPHONIC FACSIMILE MACHINE.
(a) This section applies only to a registration application
submitted by mail or by telephonic facsimile machine that does not
include proof that the applicant is a United States citizen.
(b) On receipt of a registration application, the registrar
shall transmit a notice to the applicant of the requirements of
Section 13.002 (a-1) and Section 13.002 (a-2) and include
instructions to enable the applicant to satisfy those requirements.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an application for voter registration submitted on or after the
effective date of this Act. An application for voter registration
submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
law in effect when the application was submitted, and the former law
is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.