House Bill No. 989 introduces a new chapter, Chapter 280, to the Texas Election Code, which establishes a formal process for addressing election irregularities. The bill allows individuals who participated in an election—such as candidates, political party chairs, and presiding judges—to request explanations and supporting documentation from the county clerk or election authority regarding specific actions or irregularities. The county clerk is required to respond within 20 days, and if the requester is unsatisfied, they can seek further explanations or request an audit from the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State must then determine whether the information provided is sufficient to explain the irregularity and may initiate an audit at the county's expense if necessary.

Additionally, the bill outlines penalties for election authorities that fail to remedy identified violations. If a violation is not addressed within 30 days of notification, the Secretary of State can impose a civil penalty of $500 for each unremedied violation and may take further action to remedy the situation. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of State maintain a record of authorities assessed penalties and publish this information online. The provisions of this act will apply only to elections held on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()