Texas bans state and local employees from distributing unsolicited voter registration forms

Original title: Relating to prohibiting an officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state from distributing certain voter registration application forms; creating a criminal offense.

Last action · May 13, 2025: Placed on General State CalendarSponsors: Tom Oliverson and 4 others

Companion · SB 511same policy, Senate version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Texas prohibits state and local government officers and employees from distributing unsolicited voter registration application forms or using public funds to facilitate their distribution by others, effective September 1, 2025. Violating this prohibition constitutes a criminal offense.

Why it matters

Local and state public workers face criminal penalties for providing unrequested voter registration paperwork, altering how public agencies handle voter outreach starting September 1, 2025.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

officers and employees of this state or of a political subdivision

Public workers face criminal penalties as a Class A misdemeanor if they distribute unrequested voter registration forms or use public funds to facilitate their distribution.

Directly affected

political parties and candidates for office

Political parties and candidates are explicitly exempted from the distribution ban and may continue distributing unrequested voter registration forms.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can state or local employees still distribute voter registration forms if someone asks for one?

Yes. The restriction only applies to distributing forms to a person who did not request them.

Are political parties and candidates subject to the same distribution ban?

No. Political parties and candidates for office are expressly permitted to distribute voter registration forms to persons who did not request them.

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · on the House floor.

Procedural history

15 actions

May 13, 2025House
Placed on General State Calendar
May 11, 2025House
Considered in Calendars
Apr 25, 2025House
Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 24, 2025House
Committee report distributed
Apr 24, 2025House
Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 14, 2025HouseCommittee
Reported favorably as substituted

Show 9 earlier actions

Apr 14, 2025House
Committee substitute considered in committee
Apr 14, 2025House
Considered in formal meeting
Apr 3, 2025House
Left pending in committee
Apr 3, 2025House
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 3, 2025House
Considered in public hearing
Apr 3, 2025House
Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 11, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Elections
Mar 11, 2025HouseIntroduced
Read first time
Dec 2, 2024HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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