BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 677 By: DeAyala Elections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current statute prohibits county elections administrators from being a candidate for public office or for an office of a political party, as well as from holding a public office or position within a political party. However, a county elections administrator may still be elevated to an office appointed by an elected official, which, as the bill author informed the committee, could create conflicts of interest, undermine public trust in election integrity, and blur the lines between nonpartisan election administration and political influence. H.B. 677 seeks to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain impartiality of election administration by prohibiting a county elections administrator from holding an office or position appointed by an elected official. 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. 677 amends the Election Code to prohibit a county elections administrator from holding another office or position appointed by an elected official. H.B. 677 applies only to the appointment of a county elections administrator that occurs on or after the bill's effective date. A person who is serving as county elections administrator immediately before that date is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the bill's effective date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 677
By: DeAyala
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 677
By: DeAyala
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current statute prohibits county elections administrators from being a candidate for public office or for an office of a political party, as well as from holding a public office or position within a political party. However, a county elections administrator may still be elevated to an office appointed by an elected official, which, as the bill author informed the committee, could create conflicts of interest, undermine public trust in election integrity, and blur the lines between nonpartisan election administration and political influence. H.B. 677 seeks to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain impartiality of election administration by prohibiting a county elections administrator from holding an office or position appointed by an elected official.
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. 677 amends the Election Code to prohibit a county elections administrator from holding another office or position appointed by an elected official. H.B. 677 applies only to the appointment of a county elections administrator that occurs on or after the bill's effective date. A person who is serving as county elections administrator immediately before that date is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the bill's effective date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current statute prohibits county elections administrators from being a candidate for public office or for an office of a political party, as well as from holding a public office or position within a political party. However, a county elections administrator may still be elevated to an office appointed by an elected official, which, as the bill author informed the committee, could create conflicts of interest, undermine public trust in election integrity, and blur the lines between nonpartisan election administration and political influence. H.B. 677 seeks to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain impartiality of election administration by prohibiting a county elections administrator from holding an office or position appointed by an elected official.
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. 677 amends the Election Code to prohibit a county elections administrator from holding another office or position appointed by an elected official.
H.B. 677 applies only to the appointment of a county elections administrator that occurs on or after the bill's effective date. A person who is serving as county elections administrator immediately before that date is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the bill's effective date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.