Bill Text: TX SB985 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the combination of certain election precincts.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 16)

Status: (Passed) 2025-05-24 - Effective on 9/1/25 [SB985 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB985-Enrolled.html

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S.B. No. 985

AN ACT
relating to the combination of certain election precincts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 42.0051, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 42.0051. COMBINING CERTAIN PRECINCTS. (a) If changes
in county election precinct boundaries to give effect to a
redistricting plan result in county election precincts with fewer
than 3,000 registered voters, a commissioners court for a general
or special election, or for a primary election the county executive
committee of a political party conducting a primary election, may
combine county election precincts notwithstanding Section 42.005
to avoid unreasonable expenditures for election equipment,
supplies, and personnel [This section applies only to a county with
a population of less than 1.2 million that does not participate in
the countywide polling place program described by Section 43.007].
(b) A combined precinct under Subsection (a) is subject to
the maximum population prescribed for a precinct under Section
42.006.
(c) [(a-1)] In a county that does not participate in the
countywide polling place program described by Section 43.007, for a
general or special election for which use of county election
precincts is required, the commissioner's court [may,] on the
recommendation of the county election board, or for a primary
election for which use of county election precincts is required,
the county executive committee of a political party conducting the
primary election, may combine county election precincts
notwithstanding Section 42.005 if:
(1) the commissioners court cannot secure a suitable
polling place location under Section 43.031; and
(2) the location of the combined polling place
adequately serves the voters of the combined precinct.
(d) [(c)] A combined precinct under Subsection (c) [this
section] may not contain more than 10,000 registered voters.
(e) [(d)] A combined precinct may not be established if it:
(1) results in a dilution of voting strength of a group
covered by the federal Voting Rights Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1973c et
seq.);
(2) results in a dilution of representation of a group
covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral
process or procedure; or
(3) results in discouraging participation by a group
covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral
process or procedure because of the location of a polling place or
other factors.
(f) For the purposes of appointing a presiding election judge
and an alternate presiding judge to a county election precinct
combined under this section, the combined precinct shall be
considered a single precinct and the judges shall be appointed in
accordance with the procedures provided under Chapter 32.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 985 passed the Senate on
April 2, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 12, 2025, by the
following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 985 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 7, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 94,
Nays 52, two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor