LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 6, 2025 TO: Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB1863 by Hughes (Relating to the conduct of randomized county election audits.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1863, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,247,844) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact toGeneral Revenue Related Funds2026($2,191,795)2027($2,056,049)2028($2,056,049)2029($2,056,049)2030($2,056,049)All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Change in Number of State Employees from FY 20252026($2,191,795)17.02027($2,056,049)17.02028($2,056,049)17.02029($2,056,049)17.02030($2,056,049)17.0 Fiscal AnalysisThe bill would amend the Election Code related to the conduct of randomized county election audits. It would increase the number of counties audited by the Secretary of State (SOS) for compliance with state election law from four counties selected in November of an even numbered year to 16 counties every year. The bill would increase the scope of audits to include all political subdivisions of each county. Each political subdivision would be required to register with the SOS. The bill defines certain requirements of these audits and provides statutory justification to the SOS to decline to reimburse counties or political subdivisions in certain instances related to the auditing process.
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 6, 2025
TO: Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB1863 by Hughes (Relating to the conduct of randomized county election audits.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB1863 by Hughes (Relating to the conduct of randomized county election audits.), As Introduced
Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB1863 by Hughes (Relating to the conduct of randomized county election audits.), As Introduced
SB1863 by Hughes (Relating to the conduct of randomized county election audits.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1863, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,247,844) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1863, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,247,844) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
2026 ($2,191,795)
2027 ($2,056,049)
2028 ($2,056,049)
2029 ($2,056,049)
2030 ($2,056,049)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
2026 ($2,191,795) 17.0
2027 ($2,056,049) 17.0
2028 ($2,056,049) 17.0
2029 ($2,056,049) 17.0
2030 ($2,056,049) 17.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Election Code related to the conduct of randomized county election audits. It would increase the number of counties audited by the Secretary of State (SOS) for compliance with state election law from four counties selected in November of an even numbered year to 16 counties every year. The bill would increase the scope of audits to include all political subdivisions of each county. Each political subdivision would be required to register with the SOS. The bill defines certain requirements of these audits and provides statutory justification to the SOS to decline to reimburse counties or political subdivisions in certain instances related to the auditing process.
Methodology
According to the SOS, the randomized election audit program is currently assigned 18.0 FTEs. The agency anticipates that expanding the number of audits from four every two years to 32 every two years would require an additional 17 FTEs to staff the expanded program (14 Auditor IV positions at $85,869 per year, 2 Attorney IV positions at $124,606 per year, and one Director II at $113,278 per year). Associated benefits and other expenses for these new positions would be $491,393 per year with an additional $135,746 in setup costs in fiscal year 2026.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implications of the bill on political subdivisions cannot be determined at this time but could be significant.
Source Agencies: b > td > 307 Secretary of State
307 Secretary of State
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, WP, LCO, GP, NV
JMc, WP, LCO, GP, NV