Transcript Highlights:

• It's clear in Texas election code 11.002. Why are we wasting time on this?
• Under the Texas Election Code, to be a qualified voter, a person must be a a U.S. citizen.
• Voter ID, we allow in the election code 63.001.
• I mean, it's something that's across other parts of the election code.
• So the election code is very specific on what our office can and cannot do.

Bills: HB2442, HB3697, HB4288, HB5256, HB5337, HB5362, HJR161

Keywords: HB 2442, Texas Election Code, Election Code Section 84.001, early voting, ballot by mail, mail ballot, absentee voting, runoff election, primary runoff, general runoff, voter application, election administration, county election officials, opt-out, voter choice, mail voting, ballot application, voting by mail, Election Code, size requirements

Bills: HB242, HB342, HB392, HB493, HB521, HB614, HB631, HB 1090, HB 1091, HB1477, HB242

Keywords: voter registration, elections, Election Code, registrar, county clerk, application rejection, rejection notice, voter eligibility, ballot access, transparency, administrative procedure, Texas, voting rights, election administration, notice of rejection, election, poll watcher, conviction, ineligibility, Texas election code

Transcript Highlights:

• Public notice of this hearing was given on March 12, 2025 according to Rule 4, Section 11A of the Texas
• Chapter 423 of the Government Code already provides the railroad Commission the authority to use drones
• Uh, you've created section 35A in which you define mineral.
• Again, utilities Code Chapter 251.
• And there's a reason why only about less than 10% of the water systems have elected to be a member of

Bills: HB206

Keywords: HB206, school district bonds, bond election, voter approval, Education Code, Chapter 45, Section 45.003, Section 45.0034, Texas schools, school finance, local tax election, bond referendum, school construction, capital improvements, election frequency, five-year waiting period, district bonds, public school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas Election Code sets forth the requirements related to a... a plan for a central count station
• The election code says... ...that a challenge to a voter registration not based on residence must be
• He also reasons that it violates the election code because of the instant runoff part, where it's up
• Even if a municipality was to try to enact this law, it would be preempted by the state election code
• of voters who voted in the last election, plus 25% as required by the election code.

Bills: HB376, HB817, HB 1297, HB1478, HB1661, HB1783

Keywords: HB 817, Texas Election Code, majority vote, majority threshold, ranked-choice voting, preferential voting, instant runoff voting, vote reassignment, ballot ranking, election administration, public office election, Election Code Section 2.0215, runoff elections, plurality vs majority, voting systems, education reform, budget allocation, teacher retention, student performance, accountability measures

Transcript Highlights:

• So now I'm going to give you three sections of election code because you can get confused easily.
• So, Election Code 72.003 cleared this up for us.
• judge who violates the election code repeatedly.
• You've added explicit prohibitions against waivers and at least four sections of the election code.
• election code.

Bills: HB569, HB766, HB1638, HB2316, HB2773, HB2785, HB3113, HB3709, HB3775, HB4275

Keywords: early voting, ballot correction, voting rights, election integrity, mail-in voting, voter notification, HB 766, precinct chair, precinct chair candidate, ballot application, Texas Election Code, Section 172.021, election administration, candidate filing, party precinct chair, county party, political party office, email address, telephone number, confidential candidate information

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 64.009 of the Election Code governs curbside voting in accordance with the...
• House Bill 3630 unifies the Texas Election Code. ...to align with federal law while balancing voter access
• I think you have the conclusion of the election on Election Day.
• So that was the purpose, to just take the election code and let it comport with federal case law.
• election, this...

Bills: HB2139, HB2253, HB3632, HB4171, HB4309, HB4508, SB760, SB1470

Keywords: voting access, polling place, disability, caretaker provisions, ballot delivery, election code, HB 2253, Texas Election Code, bond election, bond issuance, local government, election cancellation, disaster declaration, natural disaster, emergency election, county election officer, polling place notice, open meeting, election workers, voter safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Exact rules are in the election code, and I have written them up many times, and I've sent emails about
• They're prescribed by the date of each one in the election code. Questions.
• I memorize the election code or parts of it temporarily, and then when I've moved on to another project
• Texas Election Code, Chapter 181.061, Parts C and D.
• Just basic business to allow our delegates to come and fulfill our duties under Texas election code.

Bills: HB2139, HB2253, HB3632, HB4171, HB4309, HB4508, SB760, SB1470

Keywords: voting access, polling place, disability, caretaker provisions, ballot delivery, election code, HB 2253, Texas Election Code, bond election, bond issuance, local government, election cancellation, disaster declaration, natural disaster, emergency election, county election officer, polling place notice, open meeting, election workers, voter safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Article 5 of the Constitution, Sections 3 and 5, set up and proscribe as well as prescribe.
• Senate Bill 311 will amend Section 22.002A of the Texas Government Code, and it will allow the Texas
• the Government Code to the text of Article 5.
• Section 22.002A of the Government Code to the text of Article 5, Section 3A of the Constitution.
• In 2017, the legislature simplified Section 22.001, the statute right before 22.002.

Bills: SB16, SB76, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB827, SB964, SB1209, SB1210, SB1386, SB1470, SB2035, SJR37

Keywords: voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, transportation, infrastructure, funding, public safety, state regulation, election, polling places, voter access, state oversight, electronic voting, voting, polling place, elections, countywide program, election integrity

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs met and heard several bills related to legislative process and court jurisdiction. Senate Bill 1386, by Senator Huffman, would change compelled legislative testimony from blanket transactional immunity to testimonial immunity, allowing compelled statements or documents to be used against a witness in criminal prosecution only if not derived from the compelled testimony, while preserving protection against perjury and false statements and retaining the right to counsel. No public witnesses testified, and the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1470, by Chairman Hughes, which would require DPS to share existing data on cross-state driver’s license cancellations with the Secretary of State for voter-roll maintenance. Hughes said the bill does not create new data collection and is intended to improve list maintenance. A DPS resource witness was present, there was no substantive opposition, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1210, also by Hughes, would address conflicts between the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals on constitutional questions by making the Supreme Court the final arbiter in limited circumstances. Chris Hilton supported the bill, but Allen Place, Jack Rohde, and Philip Furlow opposed it, arguing it was unconstitutional, unnecessary, and could create practical problems in criminal post-conviction litigation. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard Senate Bill 311, which would conform the Government Code to the Texas Constitution by clarifying the Supreme Court’s original writ authority against lower courts and officials other than the governor. Justice Evan Young and Chris Hilton supported the bill as a clarification of existing authority, while no one testified against it; the bill was left pending. The committee then recessed to allow the chamber to rearrange for the Senate session.

Transcript Highlights:

• You simply modify section of the election code 13.072 the very beginning subparagraph a the registrar
• Bill eliminates election code in a few simple ways. the way the Saturday and May election date requires
• Senate Bill 76 would repeal Section 43.007 of the Election Code. establishes this program and makes conforming
• Texas election code 122.001 clearly states that voting must be private.
• All are understanding section 122.001 in the voting code.

Bills: SB16, SB76, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB827, SB964, SB1209, SB1210, SB1386, SB1470, SB2035, SJR37, SB 16

Keywords: voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, transportation, infrastructure, funding, public safety, state regulation, election, polling places, voter access, state oversight, electronic voting, voting, polling place, elections, countywide program, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• Article 5 of the Constitution sections 3 and 5 set up and proscribe as well as prescribe.
• Senate Bill 311 will amend section 22.002A of the Texas Government Code, and it will allow the Texas
• This is, again, the codification of Article 5, Section 3 of our Constitution. which defines the full
• As Chairman Hughes laid it out, SB 311 is a simple bill that conforms the text... of Section 22.002A
• of the Government Code to the text of Article 5, Section 3A. of the Constitution, and that constitutional

Bills: SB16, SB76, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB827, SB964, SB1209, SB1210, SB1386, SB1470, SB2035, SJR37, SB 16

Keywords: voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, transportation, infrastructure, funding, public safety, state regulation, election, polling places, voter access, state oversight, electronic voting, voting, polling place, elections, countywide program, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• Public notice of this hearing was given on March March the 12th, 2025, according to Rule 4, Section 11A
• Government Code already provides the Railroad Commission the authority to use drones to capture... images
• You've created Section 36. Section 35A in which you define mineral.
• Texas Legislature passed the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, again, Utilities Code
• And why only about less than 10% of the water systems have elected to be a member of. 8-1-1 because the

Bills: HB206, HB 1285, HB1335, HJR107, HB206

Keywords: pipeline, construction, cash bond, county authority, local government, HB 1285, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, drones, unmanned aircraft, UAS, drone inspections, oil and gas, pipeline inspection, surface mining, well sites, tank batteries, disposal wells, injection sites, natural resources

Transcript Highlights:

• In some counties across Texas, elections are conducted using hand-counted ballots.
• We think it encourages the wrong direction for elections.
• That means that's code for, tell me, right?
• But under the Missouri criminal code, he was up for parole last September.
• He's over, kind of like, a section of churches in Texas, and he said to...

Bills: HB34, HB128, HB621, HB748, HB2259, HB2960, HB3113, HB4749, SB835, HB128

Keywords: HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy, local government, state agency, political subdivision, foreign adversary, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Taiwan, major non-NATO ally, cultural exchange, educational exchange, tourism, bilateral cooperation, foreign relations

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 3 says, subject to subsection B of this section, the changes in law made by this act apply to
• Section 3 is the same in both.
• Section 3. Section 3 of House Bill 748, and then... Of Senate Bill 835, it's just section 2.
• In Senate Bill 835, that's where that section ends in Section 2 on page 2 of SB 835.
• 1, Section 9 of the U.S.

Bills: HB128, HB34, HB128, HB621, HB748, HB2259, HB2960, HB3113, HB4749, SB835

Keywords: heat illness prevention, workplace safety, administrative penalties, advisory board, employee protection, HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy, local government, state agency, political subdivision, foreign adversary, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Taiwan, major non-NATO ally

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 677 prohibits county election administrators from holding an office or position appointed by an elected
• HB 677 prohibits county election administrators from holding an office appointed by an elected official
• while serving as an election administrator.
• This section of the code will be enacted immediately if we have a two-thirds vote.
• This section of the code will be enacted immediately if we have a two-thirds vote.

Bills: HB668, HB677, HB766, HB3133, SB3070

Keywords: HB 668, Texas, handgun license, license to carry, LTC, concealed carry, open carry, firearm permit, gun license renewal, public safety, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Government Code Section 411.185, renewal fee, handgun permit, Second Amendment, carry permit, firearms regulation, HB 677, Texas Election Code

Summary: The committee met to hear several bills, beginning with House Bill 766, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both on their applications while keeping that contact information confidential. No one testified for or against the bill, and it was left pending. House Bill 677, a companion to a previously approved Senate bill, would bar county election administrators from simultaneously holding another office or position appointed by an elected official; it also drew no public testimony and was left pending. Members then heard House Bill 3133, which would add explicit deepfake material to the list of content social media platforms must handle through complaint systems, including prompt acknowledgment, investigation, and status updates. Senators discussed concerns about how platforms would verify whether reported content was actually a deepfake, and the sponsor indicated the bill may be held pending while federal law on the subject is reviewed. House Bill 668 would create a one-year grace period for renewing an expired Texas handgun license to carry, codifying an existing DPS practice; it also received no testimony and was left pending. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 3070, a major overhaul of the Texas Lottery system. The bill would move oversight from the Lottery Commission to TDLR, dissolve the commission, impose new restrictions on ticket sales and internet play, create a lottery advisory committee, increase transparency and audit requirements, and include a sunset review that could lead to abolishing the lottery if not continued by 2027. The author described the bill as a response to alleged misconduct and illegal practices by the commission, while a witness from the Christian Life Commission testified in favor, supporting changes to prize anonymity and other lottery restrictions. After testimony, the bill was left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and Members, House Bill 766 relates to the ballot application requirements for the election
• HB 677 prohibits county election administrators from holding an office or position appointed by an elected
• While serving as an election administrator. So with that, Mr. Chairman, any questions? I’m done.
• This is a new section that prohibits purchasing more than 100 tickets in a single transaction.
• This section of the code.

Bills: HB668, HB677, HB766, HB3133, SB3070

Keywords: HB 668, Texas, handgun license, license to carry, LTC, concealed carry, open carry, firearm permit, gun license renewal, public safety, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Government Code Section 411.185, renewal fee, handgun permit, Second Amendment, carry permit, firearms regulation, HB 677, Texas Election Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, whether anything happens or not, I mean, we're, we're inflicting a penalty on the entire elected
• You may recall 2217 was a was a bill that dealt with how we report election results and how procedures
• They get within the 30 day window before the election. They're already registered to vote.
• The election administrators brought this to the house because the law was kind of fuzzy before.
• 15.021, section 63.0011, Section 15.053, or chapter 20 if the voter changes residence within the same

Bills: SB 53, SB 54, HB16, SB 19

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, voting rights, judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, political contributions, special legislative session, election code, transparency, campaign finance, election law

Bills: HB18, SB54

Keywords: voter registration, change of address, election procedures, Texas Election Code, voting rights

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we're inflicting a penalty on the entire elected body by doing this.
• Rules that the judges are when they run for election or reelection.
• For example, 60 days after a regular session, or 60 days before an election.
• It was a bill that dealt with how we report election results and how procedures are conducted.
• Section 63.0011, Section 15.053, Section 15.021, Section 63.0011, Section 15.053.

Bills: SB 53, SB 54, HB16, SB 19

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, voting rights, judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, political contributions, special legislative session, election code, transparency, campaign finance, election law

Transcript Highlights:

• It makes a simple but important update to the election code to improve election.
• Under Section 16.033 of the Texas Election Code, if a person responds to a jury summons to say that they're
• This bill does not make any other changes to Election Code Section 15.051.
• So, So currently under Section 15.051 of the Election Code, a voter registrar must send a confirmation
• So currently under section 15.051 of the election code, a voter registrar must send a confirmation notice

Bills: HB1968, HB2279, HB2739, HB2803, HB3909, HB3918, HB4253, HB4475, HB5115, HB5430

Keywords: election services, contracting, political subdivisions, county elections, election code, voter registration, citizenship status, election law, cancellation, disqualification, Texas Election Code, voter identification, registration, election integrity, identification documents, election, watcher, polling place, removal, Texas Elections Code

Summary: The committee first voted out two previously heard Senate bills without amendment: SB 688, relating to the date of the meeting of presidential electors, and SB 914, relating to authorizing certain cities to change the date of their general election for officers. Both motions passed on 8-0 votes with one member absent. The committee then heard HB 3909, which would change the current prohibition on wireless device use from a 100-foot boundary around a voting station to only inside the room where voting is taking place, with a committee substitute also adding state-prescribed signage. The author and supporters said the change would reduce confusion and make enforcement easier for election workers, while opponents argued the existing 100-foot rule helps prevent electioneering, recording, and possible technical interference with election equipment. The bill was left pending. Members also heard HB 1968, which would repeal a provision that requires counties to provide election services to certain political subdivisions in odd-numbered years but not even-numbered years, making county-provided election services consistent across years. Supporters said it would improve consistency for smaller cities and school districts, while opponents warned it could strain county equipment and staffing during heavy election cycles. The bill was left pending. HB 2279 would require voter registrars to remove a person from the rolls if the person swears under oath during jury service that they are not a U.S. citizen; supporters said this would streamline removal of ineligible voters, while opponents raised concerns about mistaken identity and loss of due process. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 2803, which would require a presiding judge to give a poll watcher a signed statement explaining any removal from service. Supporters said this would improve documentation and accountability, and one witness asked for clarification that improper removal would remain a criminal offense; the author said he would consider a floor amendment and further discussion. The committee also heard HB 4253, which would create a more uniform voter-roll maintenance process based on inactivity, sending confirmation notices to voters who have not voted in the prior 25 months and eventually removing those who do not respond after multiple election cycles. Supporters said it would clean up outdated records and help keep voters registered where they actually live, while opponents argued it could wrongly remove eligible voters who simply do not vote regularly. HB 4253 was left pending as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill provides common-sense safeguards into the election code.
• The bill completely ignores Election Code 84.007, which requires a hard copy of the application to be
• The section of the code that y'all are amending to put the dates forward was set up for a bill.
• Members, Chapter 32 of the Election Code provides for the ...judge and alternate presiding judge for
• The Election Code already gives the Secretary the power to take action to protect citizens' voting rights

Bills: HB3097, HB3691, SB108, SB827, SB1541, SB1862, SB2166, SB2216

Keywords: Texas elections, Election Code, uniform election date, November election, local elections, political subdivisions, general election date, election administration, municipal utility district, county elections, local government, ballot scheduling, candidate filing, voter turnout, election calendar, HB 3097, early voting, electronic application, mail-in ballot, voting accessibility