BILL ANALYSIS
| Senate Research Center | S.B. 54 |
| 89S20381 MPF-F | By: Hughes |
| | State Affairs |
| | 8/26/2025 |
| | As Filed |
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 54 addresses concerns raised by the addition of Section 15.025(e) to the Election Code and repeals that section.
As proposed, S.B. 54 amends current law relating to election procedures regarding accepting a voter with a residence address that is not current and the immediate effect of a voter's registration after the registrar's receipt of certain change of address notices.
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 15.025(a), Election Code, as effective September 1, 2025, to delete existing text creating an exception under Subsection (e) (relating to providing that a voter's registration takes effect immediately upon the registrar's receipt of a notice of the voter's change of address submitted under certain provisions of the Election Code if the voter changes residence within the same county as the voter's current registration address).
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 63.0011(b) and (c), Election Code, as effective September 1, 2025, as follows:
(b) Authorizes a voter, if the voter's residence address is not current because the voter has changed residence within the county, if otherwise eligible, to vote in the election precinct in which the voter is registered, rather than in which the voter resides, if the voter resides in the county in which the voter is registered and, if applicable, resides in the political subdivision served by the authority ordering the election if the political subdivision is other than the county or resides in the territory covered by the election in a less-than-countywide election ordered by the governor or a county authority.
(c) Requires the voter, before being accepted for voting, to execute and submit to an election officer a statement including certain information, including a statement that the voter satisfies the applicable resident requirements, rather than requirement, prescribed by Subsection (b). Deletes existing text requiring the voter, before being accepted for voting, to execute and submit to an election officer a statement including a request to the registrar to change the voter's registration address to the address at which the voter resides. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 3. Repealer: Section 15.025(e) (relating to providing that a voter's registration takes effect immediately upon the registrar's receipt of a notice of the voter's change of address submitted under certain provisions of the Election Code if the voter changes residence within the same county as the voter's current registration address), Election Code, as effective September 1, 2025.
SECTION 4. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.
