Bill Text: TX SB1612 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to certain suits involving elections and the confidentiality of certain communications with voting systems vendors.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-19 - Left pending in committee [SB1612 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1612-Introduced.html
  87R9718 SLB-D
 
  By: Hall S.B. No. 1612
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain suits involving elections and the
  confidentiality of certain communications with voting systems
  vendors.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 121, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Section 121.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 121.004.  COMMUNICATIONS WITH VOTING SYSTEMS VENDOR
  PUBLIC INFORMATION. Notwithstanding any other law, including
  Chapter 552, Government Code, a written letter, e-mail, or other
  communication, including a communication made confidential by
  other law, between a public official and a voting systems vendor:
               (1)  is not confidential;
               (2)  is public information for purposes of Chapter 552,
  Government Code; and
               (3)  is not subject to an exception to disclosure
  provided by Chapter 552, Government Code.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Subchapter D, Chapter 273,
  Election Code, is amended to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. MANDAMUS [BY APPELLATE COURT]
         SECTION 3.  Section 273.061, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 273.061.  JURISDICTION. (a) The supreme court or a
  court of appeals may issue a writ of mandamus to compel the
  performance of any duty imposed by law in connection with the
  holding of a statewide [an] election, an election for the office of
  state senator or state representative, or a political party
  convention, regardless of whether the person responsible for
  performing the duty is a public officer.
         (b)  A district court may issue a writ of mandamus to compel
  the performance of any duty imposed by law in connection with the
  holding of an election by a municipality, county, or other
  political subdivision.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter D, Chapter 273, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 273.064 to read as follows:
         Sec. 273.064.  VENUE IN DISTRICT COURT. (a) A petition to a
  district court for a writ of mandamus under this subchapter must be
  filed in a district court in Travis County or in the county in which
  the election was held or is to be held.
         (b)  For an election held or to be held by a political
  subdivision other than a municipality or county, a petition filed
  under this section may be filed in Travis County or in any county
  that contains a portion of the territory of the political
  subdivision.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 22.023 to read as follows:
         Sec. 22.023.  PREFERENCE FOR HEARINGS OR TRIALS RELATED TO
  ELECTIONS. The supreme court shall give preference to a hearing or
  trial related to the conduct of an election.
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter C, Chapter 22, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 22.229 to read as follows:
         Sec. 22.229.  PREFERENCE FOR HEARINGS OR TRIALS RELATED TO
  ELECTIONS. A court of appeals shall give preference to a hearing or
  trial related to the conduct of an election.
         SECTION 7.  Section 23.101, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  The trial courts of this state shall give preference to
  a hearing or trial related to the conduct of an election, above the
  preference described by Subsection (a).
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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