TITLE: Relating to the date on which a voter registration application becomes effective.

SUMMARY: Relating to the date on which a voter registration application becomes effective.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the date on which a voter registration application becomes effective. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 13.042(c), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) An application submitted after the 19th [34th] day before the date of an election and on or before the last day for a person to timely submit a registration application for that election as provided by Section 13.143 shall be delivered not later than 5 p.m. of the next regular business day after the date to timely submit a registration application for that election as provided by Section 13.143. SECTION 2. Section 13.143(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (e), if an applicant's registration application is approved, the registration becomes effective on the 15th [30th] day after the date the application is submitted to the registrar or on the date the applicant becomes 18 years of age, whichever is later. SECTION 3. Section 13.144(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Not later than the 15th [30th] day after the date the registrar receives the application, the registrar shall deliver the original of an initial certificate: (1) in person to the applicant or the applicant's agent appointed under Section 13.003; or (2) by mail to the applicant. SECTION 4. Sections 15.025(a) and (d), Election Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (d), the registration of a voter described by this subsection whose information is changed on the registration records becomes effective as to the change on the 15th [30th] day after: (1) the date the voter submits to the registrar a notice of a change in registration information under Section 15.021 or a response under Section 15.053, indicating the change; or (2) the date the voter submits a statement of residence to an election officer under Section 63.0011 or a registration application or change of address to an agency employee under Chapter 20, indicating the change. (d) If the 15th [30th] day before the date of an election is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, the document is considered to be timely if it is submitted to the registrar on or before the next regular business day. SECTION 5. Section 16.0921(c), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) The registrar may not deliver a confirmation notice resulting from a sworn statement filed after the 75th day before the date of the general election for state and county officers until after the date of that election. This subsection does not apply to a person who submits a registration application after the 75th day and prior to the 15th [30th] day before the general election for state and county officers. SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a voter registration application submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. A voter registration application submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the application was submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.