The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Texas HB 85 requires the attorney general to prosecute election law offenses if local prosecutors do not act within six months
Last action · July 14, 2025: FiledSponsors: Leo Wilson and 17 others
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What This Bill Proposed
Relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.
Changes state oversight authority by shifting prosecution duties from local district or county attorneys to the attorney general for specific election law cases when local timelines elapse.
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.
attorney general
Must prosecute election law offenses if local prosecutors fail to initiate proceedings within six months of receiving a probable-cause report.
local prosecuting attorneys
Must share investigative information upon request and face transfer of prosecution authority to the attorney general if proceedings are not initiated within six months.
law enforcement agencies
Must simultaneously submit copies of probable-cause reports regarding election offenses to both local prosecutors and the attorney general.
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
When does the attorney general become required to prosecute an election law offense?
Do law enforcement agencies need to notify the attorney general when filing an election offense report?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.
Procedural history
1 action- Jul 14, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 13 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Transfer of Election Prosecution Authority
The legislation changes the attorney general's role from discretionary authorization to a mandatory duty to prosecute election offenses if local prosecutors do not act within six months.
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz65Current news / social attention level
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