S.B. No. 1541 aims to enhance state oversight of county elections in Texas, particularly following an election audit. The bill amends Section 31.017 of the Election Code to allow the secretary of state's office to order administrative oversight of county election offices based on specific criteria, including the filing of an administrative election complaint by certain individuals involved in the election process and the existence of a recurring pattern of problems with election administration or voter registration. The bill also establishes a timeline for the secretary of state to make a determination regarding the implementation of oversight and outlines the responsibilities of county election officials in responding to complaints.

Additionally, the bill modifies various sections of the Election Code to clarify the procedures for handling administrative complaints and investigations, including the requirement for timely responses from county officials and the secretary of state's authority to terminate the employment of a county elections administrator if issues persist. It introduces new provisions for monitoring compliance with remedial plans developed after audits and specifies the conditions under which administrative oversight may be ordered. The act is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 31.017, Election Code 31.018, Election Code 31.019, Election Code 31.020, Election Code 31.037, Election Code 127.351 (Election Code 127, Election Code 31)
Senate Committee Report: Election Code 31.017, Election Code 31.018, Election Code 31.019, Election Code 31.020, Election Code 31.037, Election Code 127.351 (Election Code 127, Election Code 31)