By: Zwiener H.J.R. No. 201
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment requiring full payment of
civil penalties imposed by the Texas Ethics Commission to be
eligible to hold certain public elective offices.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 6, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 6. To be eligible to be a candidate for, or elected or
appointed to, the office of [No person shall be a] Senator, a person
must:
(1) [unless he] be a citizen of the United States;
(2) be, [and,] at the time of the person's [his]
election or appointment, a qualified voter of this State;
(3) [, and shall] have been a resident of this State
for the five years [next] preceding the [his] election or
appointment;
(4) have been [, and the last year thereof] a resident
of the district for which the person would serve as a Senator for
the year preceding the election or appointment;
(5) be at least 26 [he shall be chosen, and shall have
attained the age of twenty-six] years of age; and
(6) have paid in full any civil penalty imposed by the
Texas Ethics Commission for which the person is liable:
(A) prior to the first date of the regular filing
period for a candidate's application for a place on the ballot if
the office is to be filled by an election; or
(B) prior to the date of appointment if the
office is to be filled by an appointment.
SECTION 2. Section 7, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 7. To be eligible to be a candidate for, or elected or
appointed to, the office of [No person shall be a] Representative, a
person must:
(1) [unless he] be a citizen of the United States;
(2) be, [and,] at the time of the person's [his]
election or appointment, a qualified voter of this State;
(3) [, and shall] have been a resident of this State
for the two years [next] preceding the [his] election or
appointment;
(4) have been [, the last year thereof] a resident of
the district for which the person would serve as a Representative
for the year preceding the election or appointment;
(5) be at least 21 [ he shall be chosen, and shall have
attained the age of twenty-one] years of age; and
(6) have paid in full any civil penalty imposed by the
Texas Ethics Commission for which the person is liable:
(A) prior to the first date of the regular filing
period for a candidate's application for a place on the ballot if
the office is to be filled by an election; or
(B) prior to the date of appointment if the
office is to be filled by an appointment.
SECTION 3. Section 4, Article IV, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 4. The Governor elected at the general election [in
1974, and thereafter,] shall be installed on the first Tuesday
after the organization of the Legislature, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, and shall hold that [his] office for the term of four
years, or until the Governor's [his] successor shall be duly
installed. To be eligible to be a candidate for or elected to the
office of Governor, a person must:
(1) [He shall] be at least thirty years of age;
(2) be [,] a citizen of the United States;
(3) have been a resident of [, and shall have resided
in] this State for the [at least] five years immediately preceding
the [his] election; and
(4) have paid in full any civil penalty imposed by the
Texas Ethics Commission for which the person is liable, prior to the
first date of the regular filing period for a candidate's
application for a place on the ballot.
SECTION 4. Section 2(b), Article V, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) To [No person shall] be eligible to be a candidate for,
or elected or appointed to, [serve in] the office of Chief Justice
or Justice of the Supreme Court, a [unless the] person must:
(1) be [is] licensed to practice law in the State of
Texas;
(2) be [is], at the time of the person's election or
appointment, a citizen of the United States and a resident of the
State of Texas;
(3) be at least 35 [has attained the age of
thirty-five] years of age;
(4) have [has] been either:
(A) a practicing lawyer licensed in the State of
Texas for at least ten years; or
(B) a practicing lawyer licensed in the State of
Texas and judge of a state court or county court established by the
Legislature by statute for a combined total of at least ten years;
[and]
(5) during the time required by Subdivision (4) of
this subsection, have [has] not had the person's license to
practice law revoked, suspended, or subject to a probated
suspension; and
(6) have paid in full any civil penalty imposed by the
Texas Ethics Commission for which the person is liable:
(A) prior to the first date of the regular filing
period for a candidate's application for a place on the ballot if
the office is to be filled by an election; or
(B) prior to the date of appointment if the
office is to be filled by an appointment.
SECTION 5. Section 7(b), Article V, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) Each district judge shall be elected by the qualified
voters at a General Election. To be eligible for appointment or
election as a district judge, a person must:
(1) be a citizen of the United States and a resident of
this State;
(2) be licensed to practice law in this State;
(3) have been a practicing lawyer or a Judge of a Court
in this State, or both combined, for eight years next preceding the
judge's election, during which time the judge's license to practice
law has not been revoked, suspended, or subject to a probated
suspension;
(4) have resided in the district in which the judge was
elected for two years next preceding the election; [and]
(5) reside in the district during the judge's term of
office; and
(6) have paid in full any civil penalty imposed by the
Texas Ethics Commission for which the person is liable:
(A) prior to the first date of the regular filing
period for a candidate's application for a place on the ballot if
the office is to be filled by an election; or
(B) prior to the date of appointment if the
office is to be filled by an appointment.
SECTION 6. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring full payment
of civil penalties imposed by the Texas Ethics Commission to be
eligible to hold certain public elective offices."