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HB 1858TEXASSession 89RState Billdead

Did Not Advance

Texas HB 1858 expands early voting hours, mandates weekend voting schedules, and allows extended voting periods

Original title: Relating to the days and hours during which the polls are open for early voting by personal appearance.

Last action · March 14, 2025: Referred to ElectionsSponsor: Sheryl Cole

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Texas HB 1858 modifies early voting timelines by setting early voting to begin on the 12th day before May uniform elections and requiring mandatory weekend hours for primary and state-county general elections. The bill allows election authorities to order extended early voting periods lasting consecutive days up to the day before election day and sets registration office hours to match main polling place hours.

Why it matters

The measure alters when and for how many hours voters can cast ballots in person before election day, giving local election authorities the power to extend voting periods through consecutive days and requiring specific weekend operational minimums for primary and general state elections.

Background

House Bill 1858 was introduced during the 89th Texas legislative session by Representative Cole and referred to the House Elections Committee. context
Texas election law governs early voting periods, including timelines for personal appearance voting and provisions for extended or weekend voting hours across counties. context

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

Registered voters in Texas

Voters gain mandatory weekend voting hours during primary and state-county general elections and have access to extended early voting options.

Directly affected

Early voting clerks and county clerks

Clerks are required to order specific weekend hours for primary and general elections, manage extended early voting periods, and ensure registrar offices remain open during main polling hours.

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 early voting begin for May uniform elections under this bill?

For an election held on the in May and any resulting runoff, early voting begins on the 12th day before election day and continues through the fourth day before election day.

Are weekend hours required for primary and general elections?

Yes. In a primary election or the general election for state and county officers, the early voting clerk must order voting on the last Saturday of the early voting period for at least 12 consecutive hours and on the last Sunday for at least six consecutive hours.

Can voters request weekend early voting for other elections?

Yes. The authority authorized to order extended early voting must order voting on a Saturday or Sunday upon receiving a written request submitted by at least 15 registered voters of the territory covered by the election.

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

3 actions

Mar 14, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Elections
Mar 14, 2025HouseIntroduced
Read first time
Jan 15, 2025HouseIntroduced
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.

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.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift98% confidence

Mandatory Weekend Hours for Major Elections

The bill transitions weekend early voting from discretionary local authority to a mandatory requirement during primary and state-county general elections.

Election Code

Connected Entities

Sheryl Cole

PersonSheryl Cole“Author of House Bill 1858”Map →

Sources

Open source document

capitol.texas.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
Controversy60
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz45
Current news / social attention level

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