Monitoring the SessionHB 1312
Died in committee
The new proof-of-citizenship duty only applies as far as the federal law and court case the bill names allow. Section 2 asks the federal commission to add the requirement to the federal form, which shows the bill expects the federal form does not require it now, so people using that form may escape the advertised requirement.
The holeInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to a person submitting proof of citizenship to verify eligibility to vote in Texas.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
The state asks the feds to add it. No action in 180 days? Off to court!
The bill tells people registering to vote in Texas to submit proof of citizenship, and orders the secretary of state to write rules requiring it, but only to the extent federal voter registration law and a named U.S. Supreme Court case allow. It also requires the secretary of state to ask the federal Election Assistance Commission, by January 1, 2026, to add a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal mail registration form. If the commission does not act within 180 days, the attorney general must go to court, so the real change depends on federal permission or a lawsuit.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 1600 by Sen. Hughes (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 1600 by Sen. Hughes (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 13, 2024 and referred to the House Elections committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB1312 · 2024-11-13
+ 10 coauthors
relating to a person submitting proof of citizenship to verify eligibility to vote in Texas.
The state asks the feds to add it. No action in 180 days? Off to court!
The bill tells people registering to vote in Texas to submit proof of citizenship, and orders the secretary of state to write rules requiring it, but only to the extent federal voter registration law and a named U.S. Supreme Court case allow. It also requires the secretary of state to ask the federal Election Assistance Commission, by January 1, 2026, to add a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal mail registration form. If the commission does not act within 180 days, the attorney general must go to court, so the real change depends on federal permission or a lawsuit.
[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 55%
The new proof-of-citizenship duty only applies as far as the federal law and court case the bill names allow. Section 2 asks the federal commission to add the requirement to the federal form, which shows the bill expects the federal form does not require it now, so people using that form may escape the advertised requirement.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
THE TEXT
…“secretary of state shall request that the federal Election”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill's main effect is a request to a federal agency and a possible lawsuit, while the state rule itself only applies as far as federal law allows.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
$310,226.49
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101005755, 101019808, 101048921, 101069141, 101072319.
$135,152.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Sep 8, 2026 to Sep 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101069141.
$25,000.00
Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101069141.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$310,226.49
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101005755, 101019808, 101048921, 101069141, 101072319.
$135,152.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Sep 8, 2026 to Sep 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101069141.
$25,000.00
Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101069141.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Sen. Hughes, different lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Apr 24, 2023: Referred to Elections
Relating to a person submitting proof of citizenship to verify eligibility to vote in Texas.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 13, 2024
03/10/2025 H Referred to Elections: Mar 10 2025 2:24PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Elections · Final status: Died in committee
SB 309 by Hughes (very similar)
HB 1670 by Leach (duplicate)
Aliens
Elections--Registration & Suffrage
FEDERAL RELATIONS
ATTORNEY GENERAL
SECRETARY OF STATE
The text as introduced · 281 words
By: Hickland H.B. No. 1312 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a person submitting proof of citizenship to verify eligibility to vote in Texas. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a) A person desiring to register to vote must submit an application and proof of citizenship as required under Subsection (a-1) to the registrar of the county in which the person resides. Except as provided by Subsection (e), an application must be submitted by personal delivery, by mail, or by telephonic facsimile machine in accordance with Sections 13.143(d) and (d-2). (a-1) To the extent permitted by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Section 20501 et seq.) and Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. , 570 U.S. 1 (2013), , 570 U.S. 1 (2013), the secretary of state shall prescribe rules that require a person to submit to the registrar proof of citizenship to determine voter eligibility. SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the secretary of state shall request that the federal Election Assistance Commission alter the mail voter registration application form requirements described in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Section 20501 et seq.) to include a requirement that applicants submit documented proof of citizenship as a condition to registration in Texas. (b) If the commission fails to comply before the 180th day following the secretary of state's request under this section, the attorney general shall seek enforcement in a court of law. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
