H.B. No. 1001 amends the Texas Election Code to prohibit the use of electronic devices for signature rosters, poll lists, and combination forms in elections. Specifically, it states that these items "may not be used in an election," replacing previous provisions that allowed for electronic forms approved by the Secretary of State. Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for providing paper ballots, mandating that election officers at polling places using electronic voting systems must offer a paper ballot to any voter who requests one. These paper ballots must be printed at the time of the request and scanned with an optical scanner after being voted.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that voting systems utilizing ballot marking devices are not permitted in elections. It also repeals Section 31.014 of the Election Code, which likely contained previous regulations regarding electronic voting systems. The changes outlined in this bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will only apply to elections held after that date, ensuring that any elections conducted prior will adhere to the laws in effect at that time.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 63.002, Election Code 63.003, Election Code 63.004, Election Code 31.014 (Election Code 31, Election Code 63)