House Bill No. 126 amends the Government Code by adding a new Subchapter E, which outlines the responsibilities of the attorney general in prosecuting criminal offenses related to election laws in Texas. The bill establishes that law enforcement agencies must report to both local prosecuting attorneys and the attorney general when there is probable cause to believe a criminal offense under the Election Code has occurred. Additionally, it grants the attorney general jurisdiction to prosecute these offenses if six months have passed without action from the local prosecuting attorney after the report is submitted.

The bill also modifies existing provisions in the Election Code, specifying that the attorney general is required to prosecute election law offenses as outlined in the new subchapter. It allows the attorney general to direct local prosecutors to assist in these prosecutions. The changes will only apply to offenses committed after the bill's effective date, ensuring that any offenses occurring prior will be governed by the previous laws in place. The act is set to take effect 91 days after the end of the legislative session.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 273.021, Election Code 273.022 (Election Code 273)