BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 640 By: Bumgarner Elections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the offices of certain election authorities must remain open during an active election period for a minimum of three hours each day, during regular office hours, on regular business days. However, this requirement does not apply to the main business office of an independent school district because the applicable statute specifically provides that a regular business day for a school district means a day on which the district's main business office is regularly open for business. The author of the bill notes that inconsistencies arise when a school district's main business office that is otherwise regularly open for business is regularly closed for business on a weekday holiday, such as Good Friday, while the offices of other election authorities regularly remain open on such holidays. H.B. 640 seeks to address this issue by specifying that a "regular business day" for the main business office of a county, city, or other political subdivision means a day on which the main business office of the entity is regularly open for business. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 640 amends the Election Code, with respect to the required office hours of an election authority during an election period, to make applicable to the main business office of a county, city, or other political subdivision the provision, which is currently applicable only to the main business office of an independent school district, providing that a "regular business day" for purposes of those office hours means a day on which the main business office is regularly open for business. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 640
By: Bumgarner
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 640
By: Bumgarner
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the offices of certain election authorities must remain open during an active election period for a minimum of three hours each day, during regular office hours, on regular business days. However, this requirement does not apply to the main business office of an independent school district because the applicable statute specifically provides that a regular business day for a school district means a day on which the district's main business office is regularly open for business. The author of the bill notes that inconsistencies arise when a school district's main business office that is otherwise regularly open for business is regularly closed for business on a weekday holiday, such as Good Friday, while the offices of other election authorities regularly remain open on such holidays. H.B. 640 seeks to address this issue by specifying that a "regular business day" for the main business office of a county, city, or other political subdivision means a day on which the main business office of the entity is regularly open for business.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 640 amends the Election Code, with respect to the required office hours of an election authority during an election period, to make applicable to the main business office of a county, city, or other political subdivision the provision, which is currently applicable only to the main business office of an independent school district, providing that a "regular business day" for purposes of those office hours means a day on which the main business office is regularly open for business.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, the offices of certain election authorities must remain open during an active election period for a minimum of three hours each day, during regular office hours, on regular business days. However, this requirement does not apply to the main business office of an independent school district because the applicable statute specifically provides that a regular business day for a school district means a day on which the district's main business office is regularly open for business. The author of the bill notes that inconsistencies arise when a school district's main business office that is otherwise regularly open for business is regularly closed for business on a weekday holiday, such as Good Friday, while the offices of other election authorities regularly remain open on such holidays. H.B. 640 seeks to address this issue by specifying that a "regular business day" for the main business office of a county, city, or other political subdivision means a day on which the main business office of the entity is regularly open for business.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 640 amends the Election Code, with respect to the required office hours of an election authority during an election period, to make applicable to the main business office of a county, city, or other political subdivision the provision, which is currently applicable only to the main business office of an independent school district, providing that a "regular business day" for purposes of those office hours means a day on which the main business office is regularly open for business.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.