S.B. No. 142 amends the Election Code to enhance the registration powers of volunteer deputy registrars in Texas. A key provision allows volunteer deputy registrars to serve throughout the state, regardless of the county that appointed them, with the Secretary of State responsible for implementing the necessary procedures. Additionally, the bill modifies the appointment certificate to remove the requirement that the appointment is specific to a county, allowing for greater flexibility in the role of volunteer deputy registrars.

The bill also clarifies that volunteer deputy registrars may not receive compensation from any county unless authorized by that county's commissioners court. Furthermore, it expands the powers of volunteer deputy registrars to distribute voter registration application forms statewide and receive applications submitted in person, regardless of the county of origin for the application. The Secretary of State is tasked with establishing procedures to facilitate these changes. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 13.031, Election Code 13.033, Election Code 13.037, Election Code 13.038 (Election Code 13)