The bill amends the Election Code in Texas to require proof of citizenship for voter registration. It introduces new subsections to Section 13.002, mandating that applicants provide specific documents, such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or citizenship papers, to verify their citizenship status. A new section, 13.0391, outlines the responsibilities of volunteer deputy registrars in informing applicants about these requirements and the consequences of failing to provide proof, which includes being limited to voting only a federal ballot. The bill also establishes a verification process for registrars to confirm citizenship status using various databases, and if an applicant cannot be verified, they will be notified and restricted to voting a limited federal ballot unless they provide the required documentation.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for existing registrants who have not submitted proof of citizenship, requiring the Secretary of State to provide registrars with information for verification by December 1, 2025. It classifies offenses related to non-compliance as state jail felonies and stipulates that voters who have previously provided proof of citizenship are not required to do so again when updating their registration. The legislation also mandates that notices sent to voters regarding their ballots must include specific statements based on their citizenship verification status. Furthermore, the Secretary of State is tasked with adopting rules to implement these changes and is authorized to seek legal enforcement if the federal Election Assistance Commission does not modify mail voter registration application requirements to include documented proof of citizenship within 180 days. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 13.002, Election Code 13.072, Election Code 13.121, Election Code 13.122, Election Code 15.021, Election Code 111.001 (Election Code 111, Election Code 13, Election Code 15)
Senate Committee Report: Election Code 13.002, Election Code 13.072, Election Code 13.121, Election Code 13.122, Election Code 15.021, Election Code 111.001 (Election Code 111, Election Code 13, Election Code 15)
Engrossed: Election Code 13.002, Election Code 13.072, Election Code 13.121, Election Code 13.122, Election Code 15.021, Election Code 111.001 (Election Code 111, Election Code 13, Election Code 15)
House Committee Report: Election Code 13.002, Election Code 13.072, Election Code 13.121, Election Code 13.122, Election Code 15.021, Election Code 111.001 (Election Code 111, Election Code 13, Election Code 15)