H.B. No. 1661 amends the Election Code to enhance the procurement and distribution of election supplies, specifically ballots, for election precincts. The bill mandates that the authority responsible for procuring election supplies must provide a number of ballots equal to at least the percentage of voters who voted in the most recent corresponding election plus an additional 25%. However, the number of ballots cannot exceed the total number of registered voters in the precinct unless the county is part of the countywide polling place program. Additionally, the bill introduces new criminal offenses for authorities that intentionally fail to provide the required number of ballots or do not promptly supplement distributed ballots upon request from a polling place, both classified as Class A misdemeanors.

Furthermore, the bill increases penalties for certain election-related offenses. It reclassifies offenses under Sections 51.010 and 51.011 from Class C misdemeanors to Class A misdemeanors, and it elevates the offense under Section 61.007 from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony. The changes in law apply only to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Offenses committed before this date will be governed by the previous law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 51.005, Election Code 51.008, Election Code 51.010, Election Code 51.011, Election Code 61.007 (Election Code 51, Election Code 61)
House Committee Report: Election Code 51.005, Election Code 51.008, Election Code 51.010, Election Code 51.011, Election Code 61.007 (Election Code 51, Election Code 61)
Engrossed: Election Code 51.005, Election Code 51.008, Election Code 51.010, Election Code 51.011, Election Code 61.007 (Election Code 51, Election Code 61)
Senate Committee Report: Election Code 51.005, Election Code 51.008, Election Code 51.010, Election Code 51.011, Election Code 61.007 (Election Code 51, Election Code 61)
Enrolled: Election Code 51.005, Election Code 51.008, Election Code 51.010, Election Code 51.011, Election Code 61.007 (Election Code 51, Election Code 61)