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 is not valid, such as when it is induced by force or given by someone not legally authorized to act for the voter. Additionally, the term "publish" is clarified to mean the communication of information through various means. The bill establishes that a person commits an offense if they intentionally and knowingly publish how a voter has voted without the voter's effective consent, making such an offense a felony of the third degree.

Furthermore, the bill provides an affirmative defense for individuals who publish voting information in accordance with state law that mandates such publication. It specifies that the changes in law will only apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Offenses committed prior to this date will be governed by the law in effect at that time.

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