The bill, H.B. No. 303, amends the Election Code of Texas to clarify the effects of weekends, holidays, and force majeure events on the deadlines for election-related actions. Specifically, it updates Section 1.006 to state that if the last day for performing an act falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, or if the act cannot be performed due to an act of God or similar uncontrollable circumstances, the act will be considered timely if completed on the next regular business day. Additionally, the bill designates that for statewide elections or those spanning multiple counties, the Secretary of State will determine if an event qualifies as force majeure, while for elections within a single county, the county judge will make that determination.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a new provision in Section 1.007, which states that if a delivery, submission, or filing requires in-person submission by a specific time, it will be accepted as long as the person or document arrives at the office before the deadline. This amendment aims to ensure that unforeseen circumstances do not unfairly penalize individuals attempting to meet election-related deadlines. The bill is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 1.006, Election Code 1.007 (Election Code 1)