Senate Bill No. 2166 aims to enhance the testing protocols for voting tabulation equipment in Texas elections by amending several sections of the Election Code, including Sections 127.091, 127.092, and 127.093. The bill clarifies the responsibilities of election officials, requiring the general custodian of election records and the testing board to conduct initial and subsequent tests of the equipment at both central counting stations and polling places. It mandates that test ballots be generated during public tests of logic and accuracy, and that the equipment be tested before and after ballot counting. Additionally, the bill introduces new definitions and procedures for acceptance testing, including hash validation to ensure the integrity of the voting system's source code.

The bill also adds a new subsection (d) to Section 129.024, which stipulates that test materials will not be available for public inspection until the day after the final canvass of the election. It allows for the unsealing of the sealed container containing test materials for public inspection, with the requirement that it be resealed afterward. The bill expands the circumstances under which the container's contents may be unsealed, including for election contests and public inspection requests. Furthermore, it mandates that the secretary of state will prescribe procedures and training materials for conducting these tests and repeals Section 127.096(a-1) of the Election Code. The provisions of this Act are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 127.091, Election Code 127.094, Election Code 127.096, Election Code 127.099, Election Code 127.100, Election Code 129.021, Election Code 129.023, Election Code 129.024 (Election Code 127, Election Code 129)
Senate Committee Report: Election Code 127.091, Election Code 127.094, Election Code 127.096, Election Code 127.099, Election Code 127.100, Election Code 129.021, Election Code 129.023, Election Code 129.024 (Election Code 127, Election Code 129)