Bill Text: TX SB2256 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to federal election practices and procedures.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (N/A - Dead) 2021-05-12 - Received by the Secretary of the Senate [SB2256 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB2256-Introduced.html
87R26522 MLH-F | ||
By: Hughes | S.B. No. 2256 |
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relating to federal election practices and procedures. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 31.007, Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 31.007. SUSPENSION OF PROVISIONS IMPLEMENTING FEDERAL | ||
LAW [ |
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order, regulation, or other official action any provision of | ||
federal law regarding the registration of voters or conduct of | ||
elections, including the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 or | ||
its successors, is not required to be implemented or enforced in | ||
whole or in part, an affected state law or rule is suspended to the | ||
extent that the law or rule was enacted or adopted to implement that | ||
law [ |
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applicable law in effect immediately before the enactment or | ||
adoption be reinstated and continued in effect pending enactment of | ||
corrective state legislation. | ||
(b) On a finding by the secretary of state that a suspension | ||
of a law or rule has occurred under Subsection (a), the secretary | ||
may modify applicable procedures as necessary to give effect to the | ||
suspension and to reinstatement of the procedures of the former | ||
law. | ||
(c) The secretary of state may adopt rules to implement this | ||
section as necessary. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 31.0075 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 31.0075. TEMPORARY MEASURES TO IMPLEMENT FEDERAL LAW. | ||
(a) Pending enactment of conforming state legislation, the | ||
secretary of state shall by rule, after consulting with the chair | ||
and vice chair of the standing committees of the senate and house of | ||
representatives having jurisdiction over elections, adopt | ||
procedures to conform with federal laws enacted regarding federal | ||
elections in a manner that does not substantively modify the | ||
procedures for voter registration for or conduct of elections | ||
provided in this code, other than federal elections, except as | ||
provided by this section. | ||
(b) In compliance with Subsection (a), to the extent federal | ||
law modifies the requirements or procedures provided in this code | ||
for voter registration in federal elections, the secretary of state | ||
shall by rule establish and maintain a federal election voter | ||
registration system in compliance with federal law. Any person | ||
registered under this system may not be eligible to vote in any | ||
election other than a federal election unless that person is | ||
qualified and registered to vote under Title 2. Any person seeking | ||
to register to vote under the federal election voter registration | ||
system established under this subsection shall be notified upon | ||
registering to vote under this system that registration to vote in | ||
federal elections does not qualify a person to vote in any other | ||
election conducted in this state unless that person registers to | ||
vote as provided by Title 2. All persons registered to vote as | ||
provided by Title 2 shall be automatically registered to vote under | ||
the federal election voter registration system established under | ||
this subsection. Any voter registration certificate issued or list | ||
of registered voters produced under the federal election voter | ||
registration system established under this subsection shall be | ||
clearly marked "Valid for federal elections only." | ||
(c) In compliance with Subsection (a), to the extent federal | ||
law modifies the conduct of elections for federal office in a manner | ||
that substantively conflicts with any provision of this code, | ||
notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the secretary of | ||
state shall by rule modify the uniform election dates and other | ||
associated dates and deadlines provided in this code so that no | ||
election other than an election for federal office is held on the | ||
same date as any special election for a member of Congress, a | ||
federal primary, a federal primary runoff, or a general election | ||
for federal office. | ||
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to | ||
an application to register to vote submitted on or after the | ||
effective date of this Act. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |