Bill Text: TX HB378 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the authority of certain entities and individuals to prevent individuals from accessing private property for the purpose of registering voters or communicating political messages.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-23 - Referred to Elections [HB378 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB378-Introduced.html

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88R1784 CJD-D
By: Bucy H.B. No. 378

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of certain entities and individuals to
prevent individuals from accessing private property for the purpose
of registering voters or communicating political messages.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 276, Election Code, is amended by adding
Section 276.020 to read as follows:
Sec. 276.020. DOOR TO DOOR VOTER REGISTRATION AND POLITICAL
MESSAGING. (a) In this section, "residential unit" includes a
single-family house, a single-family house located in a residential
subdivision or housing development, an apartment, a condominium, or
another unit in a multifamily residential structure.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a political
subdivision, property owners' association, homeowners'
association, or property manager may not adopt or enforce a rule,
order, ordinance, or policy that prevents an individual from
knocking on the front door of a residential unit, ringing the
doorbell of the unit, or leaving a pamphlet, flier, or other form of
written communication at the unit for the purpose of:
(1) assisting an occupant of the unit with registering
to vote; or
(2) communicating to an occupant of the unit support
or opposition for:
(A) a candidate for nomination or election to
public office or office of a political party;
(B) a political party; or
(C) a measure, as defined by Section 251.001.
(c) A political subdivision, property owners' association,
homeowners' association, or property manager may adopt and enforce
a reasonable restriction on the time, place, or manner of an
activity described by Subsection (b).
(d) A peace officer, as that term is described by Article
2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or private party may not prevent
an individual from engaging in an activity described by Subsection
(b) unless the officer or party reasonably believes that the
activity poses a threat to a person or property or is in violation
of a statute, ordinance, order, rule, or policy.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.