89R2278 PRL-D
By: Cain H.B. No. 892
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring a person to submit proof of citizenship to
register to vote.
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 Subsection (a-1) 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) A person desiring to register to vote shall submit to
the registrar a copy of one of the following documents:
(1) a United States passport or passport card issued
to the person;
(2) a certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a
United States state or territory, or the District of Columbia;
(3) United States citizenship papers issued to the
person;
(4) identification issued by the agency of the United
States responsible for citizenship and immigration; or
(5) for citizens born abroad, a certificate of report
of birth or consular report of birth abroad issued by the United
States Department of State.
SECTION 2. Section 13.039(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) On receipt of a registration application, a volunteer
deputy registrar shall review it for completeness in the
applicant's presence and verify the applicant's citizenship using
the proof of citizenship required by Section 13.002(a-1).
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only
if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2025, to require a person to submit proof of
citizenship to register to vote is approved by the voters. If that
amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.