TITLE: Relating to voter registration.

SUMMARY: Relating to voter registration.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to voter registration. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a) A person desiring to register to vote must submit an application and proof of citizenship as required under Subsection (a-1) to the registrar of the county in which the person resides. Except as provided by Subsection (e), an application must be submitted by personal delivery, by mail, or by telephonic facsimile machine in accordance with Sections 13.143(d) and (d-2). (a-1) To the extent permitted by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Section 20501 et seq.) and Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.,570 U.S. 1 (2013),,570 U.S. 1 (2013), the secretary of state shall prescribe rules that require a person to submit to the registrar proof of citizenship to determine voter eligibility. SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 13.0022 to read as follows: Sec. 13.0022. NOTICE TO PRESENT PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP FOR APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY MAIL OR BY TELEPHONIC FACSIMILE MACHINE. (a) This section applies only to a registration application submitted by mail or by telephonic facsimile machine. (b) On receipt of a registration application, the registrar shall transmit a notice to the applicant of any requirements prescribed by the secretary of state under Section 13.002(a-1) and include instructions to enable the applicant to satisfy those requirements. SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 18, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 18.014 to read as follows: Sec. 18.014. AVAILABILITY OF REAL PROPERTY INFORMATION. (a) For the purpose of maintaining a list of registered voters, the secretary of state, a registrar, or a private entity contracted with the secretary under Section 18.0625 may use publicly available real estate records, information on zoning regulations in this state, and any other relevant real property data to: (1) verify that a voter's residence address corresponds to a residential property; and (2) identify any residence address of a voter that appears not to correspond to a residential property, including a vacant lot or commercial property. (b) If the secretary of state or a registrar determines that a voter on a list of registered voters has a residence address that does not correspond to a residential property, the secretary or registrar shall deliver a written confirmation notice to the voter in accordance with Section 15.051. SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 18, Election Code, is amended by adding Sections 18.0625 and 18.0626 to read as follows: Sec. 18.0625. THIRD-PARTY STATEWIDE COMPUTERIZED VOTER REGISTRATION LIST CONTRACT. (a) The secretary of state may contract with one or more private entities to assist the secretary in maintaining the statewide voter registration list by: (1) comparing voter information on the statewide voter registration list with information on the National Change of Address database; (2) comparing voter information from other states to identify voters registered to vote in more than one state; (3) reviewing information regarding individuals who have moved into or out of this state; and (4) recommending to the secretary of state for removal from the statewide voter registration list any voter identified under a criteria described by Subdivisions (1)-(3) who may no longer be eligible or who may have duplicate registrations. (b) A contract entered into with a private entity under Subsection (a) must: (1) include provisions related to the security and confidentiality of a voter's information; (2) comply with all state and federal laws relating to the protection of personal information and election integrity; and (3) provide reasonable compensation to the private entity from money made available to the secretary of state for that purpose. (c) The secretary of state shall provide a county voter registrar any information provided to the secretary by a system provider contracted with the secretary under this section regarding a voter registered to vote in the registrar's county. Sec. 18.0626. THIRD-PARTY MAIL NOTIFICATION TO REGISTRAR. (a) An entity that contracts with the secretary of state under Section 18.0625 shall provide a registrar by mail any information on a voter registered to vote in the registrar's county who the entity determines: (1) is not a citizen of the United States; (2) does not reside at the voter's residence address; or (3) is otherwise not qualified to vote under Section 11.002. (b) The information provided to a registrar under Subsection (a) must include the specific grounds for which the entity claims the voter is not eligible to vote and any relevant supporting documentation. (c) A registrar shall review any information provided under this section and, if the registrar determines that reasonable grounds exist to believe the voter is not eligible to vote, deliver a written confirmation notice to the voter in accordance with Section 15.051. SECTION 5. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the secretary of state shall request that the federal Election Assistance Commission alter the mail voter registration application form requirements described in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Section 20501 et seq.) to include a requirement that applicants submit documented proof of citizenship as a condition to registration in Texas. (b) If the commission fails to comply before the 180th day following the secretary of state's request under this section, the attorney general shall seek enforcement in a court of law. SECTION 6. Section 13.0022, Election Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an application for voter registration submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An application for voter registration 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.