By: Hughes, Campbell S.B. No. 1209
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to election dates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2.025(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) or as otherwise
provided by this code, a runoff election shall be held on a Tuesday
[Saturday] designated by the secretary of state.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 41.001, Election Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 41.001. UNIFORM ELECTION DATE [DATES].
SECTION 3. Section 41.001, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read
as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, each
general or special election in this state shall be held on [one of
the following dates:
[(1) the first Saturday in May in an odd-numbered
year;
[(2) the first Saturday in May in an even-numbered
year, for an election held by a political subdivision other than a
county, or ordered by the governor; or
[(3)] the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November.
(c) Except for an election under Subsection (a) or Section
41.0011 [or a runoff election following an election held under
Subsection (a)(2)], an election may not be held within 30 days
before or after the date of the general election for state and
county officers, general primary election, or runoff primary
election.
(e) Except for an election under Section 41.0011 or as
provided by Section 203.004(b), every election held in this state
shall be held on a Tuesday.
SECTION 4. Section 41.004(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) If a law outside this code other than the constitution
requires a special election subject to Section 41.001(a) to be held
within a particular period after the occurrence of a certain event,
the election shall be held on the [an] authorized uniform election
date occurring within the period unless no uniform election date
within the period affords enough time to hold the election in the
manner required by law. In that case, Section 41.001(a) does not
apply [the election shall be held on the first authorized uniform
election date occurring after the expiration of the period].
SECTION 5. Section 41.0052(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The governing body of a political subdivision[, other
than a county or municipal utility district,] that holds its
general election for officers on a date other than the November
uniform election date shall [may], not later than December 31, 2025
[2016], change the date on which it holds its general election for
officers to the November uniform election date.
SECTION 6. Section 41.007(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The runoff primary election date is the second [fourth]
Tuesday in May following the general primary election.
SECTION 7. Sections 203.013(c) and (e), Election Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(c) The election must be held on a Tuesday [or Saturday]
occurring not earlier than the 21st day or later than the 45th day
after the date the election is ordered.
(e) If a runoff election is necessary, it must be held on a
Tuesday [or Saturday] occurring not earlier than the 12th day or
later than the 25th day after the date the election is ordered.
SECTION 8. The following provisions of the Election Code
are repealed:
(1) Section 41.001(d);
(2) Section 41.0052(a-1), as added by Chapter 1160
(S.B. 1131), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023;
(3) Section 41.0052(a-1), as added by Chapter 985
(S.B. 2620), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023;
and
(4) Section 85.001(e).
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.