89R1510 LRM-D
By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 2227
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to notification by the secretary of state when a person
convicted of a felony may register to vote.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 13.007, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this
section that for a person not eligible to vote under Section
13.001(a)(4):
(1) the person represented on a registration
application that the person is eligible to register to vote; and
(2) the person received notice under Section
15.029(c).
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 15, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 15.029 to read as follows:
Sec. 15.029. NOTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY BY
SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) This section applies to a person who is
ineligible to vote in this state under Section 13.001(a)(4) because
the person was finally convicted of a felony.
(b) The secretary of state shall coordinate with the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice, the Department of Public Safety,
and any other relevant agency to determine when a person to whom
this section applies is no longer ineligible to vote or apply for
voter registration under Section 13.001(a)(4)(A) or (B).
(c) At the time a person to whom this section applies is no
longer ineligible to vote under Section 13.001(a)(4)(A) or (B), the
secretary of state shall use best efforts to provide the person
with:
(1) a notice informing the person in plain language
that the person's felony conviction no longer disqualifies the
person from being eligible to register to vote, including a
complete list of eligibility requirements;
(2) instructions for registration; and
(3) a voter registration application.
(d) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary's
Internet website a generic version of the notice described by
Subsection (c)(1).
(e) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
administer this section.
SECTION 3. Section 64.012, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under
Subsection (a)(1) that the person received notice under Section
15.029(c).
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act in amending
Sections 13.007 and 64.012, Election Code, apply 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 when 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.