89R8239 JDK-D
By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 1542
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to maintaining the accuracy of information contained
within the statewide voter registration system; creating a criminal
offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 18.062(i), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(i) In addition to using a system described by Subsection
(a), the secretary of state shall, [use data from the National
Change of Address database to identify voters whose addresses have
changed] for the purpose of preventing duplication of registration
in more than one state or jurisdiction and to identify voters whose
addresses have changed:
(1) use data from the National Change of Address
database; and
(2) enter into an agreement with the Department of
Public Safety to receive notice of a change of address submitted
under Section 521.054, Transportation Code.
SECTION 2. Section 18.065, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (e-1) and (g-1) to read as follows.
(e-1) On a third violation under Subsection (e), the
secretary of state shall, as necessary, assume the voter
registrar's duties relating to the maintenance of the statewide
voter registration list, including the registrar's duties related
to the maintenance of accurate registration records under:
(1) Subchapters B, C, and D, Chapter 15; and
(2) Chapter 16.
(g-1) It is an offense for a voter registrar to commit a
violation of a requirement imposed on the registrar by a provision
or rule described in Subsection (a) three or more times. An offense
under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
before that date.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.