HB2259

Regular Session

Relating to the instructions for an application form for an early voting ballot.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Secretary of State

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025
*Note:* There is no grace period. Any material distributed on this date must match the new statutory specifications.
Agency Rulemaking: The Secretary of State (SOS) must prescribe the official form instructions prior to the effective date.
*Regulatory Gray Zone:* Between now and Summer 2025. Businesses must wait for the SOS to define the "largest feasible font size" before finalizing print runs.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Audit Inventory: Immediately quantify existing stock of Early Voting Ballot Application instructions and schedule their destruction for late August 2025.
2. Freeze Procurement: Halt all bulk ordering of these forms for the late 2025/2026 cycle until the SOS releases the official design standards.
3. Update Templates: Alert internal design teams to the new constraints: Portrait orientation, 8.5x11 paper, Calibri or Aptos font only.
4. Notify Vendors: Send formal notice to your print vendors regarding the upcoming statutory change to prevent them from auto-renewing orders with obsolete templates.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Vendor Agreements: Update Master Services Agreements (MSAs) with print vendors to explicitly cite Texas Election Code Sec. 84.0112 as amended.
Liability Clauses: Shift liability for ballot rejection to the design/print vendor if rejection is caused by non-compliance with font (Calibri/Aptos), size, or orientation mandates.
Deliverables: Condition final payment on the production of a "proof" that matches the SOS-prescribed template exactly.

Hiring/Training

Design Teams: Instruct graphic design staff that "creative license" is prohibited for this document. They must strictly adhere to the SOS template regarding bolding, font family (Calibri/Aptos), and margins.
Inventory Managers: Staff must be trained to identify and segregate pre-HB2259 forms to prevent accidental distribution during the 2026 election cycle.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Version Control: Implement a strict version control log. You must be able to prove that the version sent to a voter or employee was the compliant post-September 2025 version.
Proof Retention: Retain physical or digital proofs of all print runs to defend against potential claims of disenfranchisement should a county reject applications based on formatting.

Fees & Costs

Inventory Write-Offs: Budget for the total loss of existing pre-printed ABBM instruction stock. These cannot be used after August 31, 2025.
Retooling: Anticipate minor one-time costs for redesigning templates to meet the portrait-only, 8.5x11, single-sheet requirement.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The statute grants the Secretary of State discretion that creates operational uncertainty:

1. "Largest Feasible Font": The law requires 12-point font *unless* it does not fit on a single page, at which point the SOS determines the size. You cannot guess this size; you must wait for the agency ruling.
2. Language Requirements: The SOS determines the languages required based on "demographic composition." Do not assume a standard English/Spanish split; wait for the official directive to see if additional languages (e.g., Vietnamese, Chinese) are mandated for the statewide form.
3. Bolding: The SOS determines where bold print is "necessary." Arbitrary bolding by your design team may render the form non-compliant.

Need Help Understanding Implementation?

Our government affairs experts can walk you through this bill's specific impact on your operations.

Schedule Consultation

Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsElections Elections--early Voting Elections--general Secretary of State

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2259

By: DeAyala

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that some voters, specifically those with visual impairments, have reported difficulty in reading the instructions provided with early voting mail-in ballot applications. The bill author has also informed the committee that these instructions can often be printed in a small font size on a half-sheet of paper, making them difficult to read and potentially leading to errors in the application. Ensuring clear and legible instructions are provided with early voting mail-in ballot applications can play a crucial part in maintaining accessibility of and increasing participation in the electoral process. H.B. 2259 seeks to reduce confusion, prevent application errors, and ensure that all eligible voters can effectively participate in elections by improving the readability of early voting mail-in ballot application instructions.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2259 amends the Election Code to require the secretary of state to prescribe instructions to be printed for the officially prescribed early voting ballot application form and to require the instructions to meet the following requirements:

·be presented in portrait orientation on a single piece of paper that is 8 and one-half by 11 inches;

·be printed in Calibri or Aptos font in at least 12-point font or the largest font size that allows the instructions to fit on a single piece of paper, as determined by the secretary of state; and

·contain bold print, as determined necessary by the secretary of state, to adequately relate the instructions to an item on the application.

The bill requires the secretary of state to prescribe instructions to be printed along with the officially prescribed early voting ballot application form in each language appropriate to the demographic composition of Texas in the form and manner prescribed by the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

House Authors

Rep. Mano DeAyalaRepublican · Primary Author

Joint Authors

Philip Cortez (D)

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 2259

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the instructions for an application form for an early
	voting ballot.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, is
	amended by adding Section 84.0112 to read as follows:
	Sec. 84.0112. OFFICIAL APPLICATION FORM INSTRUCTIONS. (a)
	The secretary of state shall prescribe instructions to be printed
	for the officially prescribed application form for an early voting
	ballot. The instructions must:
	(1) be presented in portrait orientation on a single
	piece of paper that is 8-1/2 by 11 inches;
	(2) be printed in Calibri or Aptos font in at least
	12-point font or the largest font size that allows the instructions
	to fit on a single piece of paper, as determined by the secretary;
	and
	(3) contain bold print, as determined necessary by the
	secretary, to adequately relate the instructions to an item on the
	application.
	(b) The secretary shall prescribe instructions to be
	printed along with the officially prescribed application form for
	an early voting ballot in each language appropriate to the
	demographic composition of this state in the form and manner
	prescribed by Subsection (a).
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 31, 2025

TO:	Honorable Matt Shaheen, Chair, House Committee on Elections

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB2259 by DeAyala (Relating to the instructions for an application form for an early voting ballot.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

307 Secretary of State

LBB Staff:

JMc, FV, GP

Related Legislation

Explore more bills from this author and on related topics

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB2259

What does Texas HB2259 do?

HB2259 mandates strict typography (Calibri or Aptos) and layout standards for Early Voting Ballot Application instructions, effectively stripping design discretion from private vendors and political consultants. This legislation renders all current inventory of application instruction forms obsolete effective September 1, 2025, requiring commercial printers and corporate civic engagement programs to overhaul design templates and destroy non-compliant stock. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 Note: There is no grace period.

Who authored HB2259?

HB2259 was authored by Texas Representative Mano DeAyala during the Regular Session.

When was HB2259 signed into law?

HB2259 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB2259?

HB2259 is enforced by Texas Secretary of State.

How urgent is compliance with HB2259?

The compliance urgency for HB2259 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB2259?

The cost impact of HB2259 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB2259 address?

HB2259 addresses topics including elections, elections--early voting, elections--general and secretary of state.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

Need Strategic Guidance on This Bill?

Need help with Government Relations, Lobbying, or compliance? JD Key Consulting has the expertise you're looking for.