The bill 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 introduces a provision that assigns the responsibility of determining whether an event qualifies as force majeure to the Secretary of State for statewide elections or those spanning multiple counties, while the county judge will make this determination for elections confined to a single county.

Furthermore, the bill adds a new subsection to Section 1.007, which stipulates that if a delivery, submission, or filing requires in-person submission by a specific time, it will still be accepted as long as the person or document arrives at the office before the deadline. This amendment aims to ensure that voters and election officials have clear guidelines regarding deadlines and the acceptance of submissions, thereby enhancing the administration of elections in Texas. 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)