S.B. No. 2363 amends Section 61.006 of the Election Code to redefine the criminal offense of unlawfully publishing a vote. The bill introduces new definitions, including "effective consent," which specifies the conditions under which consent to publish a voter's voting information is considered valid. It clarifies that a person commits an offense if they intentionally and knowingly publish how a voter has voted without obtaining effective consent from the voter. The bill also establishes that the offense is classified as a felony of the third degree.

Additionally, the bill provides an affirmative defense for individuals charged under this section if they published the voter's voting information in accordance with a state law that mandates such publication. The changes made by this Act will only apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, ensuring that any offenses occurring prior to this date will be governed by the previous law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 61.006 (Election Code 61)
Senate Committee Report: Election Code 61.006 (Election Code 61)