The bill, H.B. No. 1296, amends the Texas Election Code to streamline the voter registration process for naturalized United States citizens. It introduces a new section, 13.009, which mandates that the voter registrar of each county automatically register residents who are eligible to vote upon the issuance of their naturalization certificate by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Additionally, the bill allows the Department of Public Safety to collaborate with USCIS to establish a notification procedure for when a naturalization certificate is issued, ensuring that the appropriate county registrar receives this information.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for situations where the USCIS fails to notify the Department of Public Safety. In such cases, newly naturalized citizens can present their naturalization certificate directly to the county registrar, who is required to assist them in the voter registration process. The bill also empowers the secretary of state to adopt necessary rules for its implementation. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 13.002, Subchapter A, Chapter , Election Code 13.143 (Subchapter A, Chapter , Election Code 13, Election Code 13)