Bill Text: TX HB5613 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to electioneering near a polling place; creating a criminal offense.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-04-07 - Referred to Elections [HB5613 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB5613-Introduced.html
| By: Toth | H.B. No. 5613 | |
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| relating to electioneering near a polling place; creating a | ||
| criminal offense. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 61.003, Election Code, is amended by | ||
| amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as | ||
| follows: | ||
| (a) A person commits an offense if, during the voting period | ||
| and within 100 feet of an outside door through which a voter may | ||
| enter the building in which a polling place is located and is | ||
| designated by the presiding judge as the single point of entry, the | ||
| person: | ||
| (1) loiters; or | ||
| (2) electioneers for or against any candidate, | ||
| measure, or political party. | ||
| (a-2) A person commits an offense if, during the voting | ||
| period, the person prohibits electioneering outside the area | ||
| described in Subsection (a), including electioneering outside that | ||
| area and on the premises of a building in which a polling place is | ||
| located. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 61.010(a), Election Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person may not | ||
| wear a badge, insignia, emblem, or other similar communicative | ||
| device relating to a candidate, measure, or political party | ||
| appearing on the ballot, or to the conduct of the election, in the | ||
| polling place or within 100 feet of the [ |
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| which a voter may enter the building in which the polling place is | ||
| located designated by the presiding judge as the single point of | ||
| entry under Section 61.003(a). | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 62.013(a), Election Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (a) An election officer commits an offense if the officer | ||
| knowingly posts at a polling place, including the area within 100 | ||
| feet of an outside door through which a voter may enter the building | ||
| in which the polling place is located designated by the presiding | ||
| judge as the single point of entry under Section 61.003(a), a sign, | ||
| card, poster, or other similar material that: | ||
| (1) is not authorized or required by law; or | ||
| (2) is in a form or contains information that is not | ||
| authorized or required by law. | ||
| SECTION 4. Section 85.036(a), Election Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (a) During the time an early voting polling place is open | ||
| for the conduct of early voting, a person may not electioneer for or | ||
| against any candidate, measure, or political party in or within 100 | ||
| feet of an outside door through which a voter may enter the building | ||
| or structure in which the early voting polling place is located and | ||
| is designated by the presiding judge as the single point of entry | ||
| under Section 61.003(a). | ||
| SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.. | ||
