BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 2681 89R13942 AB-F By: Bettencourt State Affairs 4/4/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Concerns have been raised about how counties are managing challenges to voter registration. Under current statute, the fact must be from personal knowledge to the voter desiring to challenge the registration of another voter. However, certain counties have been taking a very narrow definition of personal knowledge and wholesale rejecting legitimate challenges to voter registrations. S.B. 2681 amends the Election Code to allow someone to challenge a voter's registration based on a fact not subject to reasonable dispute because the fact is known or can be determined from a reliable source. An example of what would be a reasonable source under this statute would be National Change of Address data or death records. As proposed, S.B. 2681 amends current law relating to the basis for a third-party challenge to a voter's registration. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 16.092, Election Code, as follows: Sec. 16.092. SWORN STATEMENT REQUIRED. Requires a voter desiring to challenge a registration to file with the registrar a sworn statement of the grounds for the challenge that provides certain information, including states a specific qualification for registration that the challenged voter has not met based on a fact not subject to reasonable dispute because the fact is generally known or can be determined from a reliable source. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 2681
89R13942 AB-F By: Bettencourt
State Affairs
4/4/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 2681
89R13942 AB-F
By: Bettencourt
State Affairs
4/4/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Concerns have been raised about how counties are managing challenges to voter registration. Under current statute, the fact must be from personal knowledge to the voter desiring to challenge the registration of another voter. However, certain counties have been taking a very narrow definition of personal knowledge and wholesale rejecting legitimate challenges to voter registrations.
S.B. 2681 amends the Election Code to allow someone to challenge a voter's registration based on a fact not subject to reasonable dispute because the fact is known or can be determined from a reliable source. An example of what would be a reasonable source under this statute would be National Change of Address data or death records.
As proposed, S.B. 2681 amends current law relating to the basis for a third-party challenge to a voter's registration.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 16.092, Election Code, as follows:
Sec. 16.092. SWORN STATEMENT REQUIRED. Requires a voter desiring to challenge a registration to file with the registrar a sworn statement of the grounds for the challenge that provides certain information, including states a specific qualification for registration that the challenged voter has not met based on a fact not subject to reasonable dispute because the fact is generally known or can be determined from a reliable source. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.