The bill, S.B. No. 142, amends the Election Code to enhance the registration powers of volunteer deputy registrars in Texas. A significant change allows volunteer deputy registrars to serve throughout the state, regardless of the county that appointed them, and mandates the Secretary of State to establish procedures for this implementation. Additionally, the bill modifies the appointment certificate to remove the requirement that a volunteer deputy registrar be appointed specifically for a county, allowing for broader service across counties.

Further amendments include clarifying that volunteer deputy registrars may not receive compensation from any county unless authorized by that county's commissioners court. The bill also 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 creating procedures to facilitate these changes. The bill 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)