88R HB 2623
by Rep. Hinojosa, different lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 13, 2023: Referred to Elections
Relating to postage for early voting ballots voted by mail.
Caption, 88R bill history
HB 1780
bill making mail ballot return postage free
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
No flagsInitial review
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to postage for early voting ballots voted by mail.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Voters mail the ballot back without paying postage.
The bill requires that the official envelope used to return a mail-in early voting ballot be prepared so voters can mail it back without paying postage, and it tells the secretary of state to write rules to carry this out. It touches voters who vote by mail, county early voting clerks, and the secretary of state, and it requires the envelope to state that return postage is prepaid. Starting with elections ordered on or after September 1, 2025, mail voters would no longer buy stamps to return their ballots, and it also repeals an existing subsection of the mail-ballot law.
Labels
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 2623 by Rep. Hinojosa (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 HB 2623 by Rep. Hinojosa (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 Jan 8, 2025 and referred to the House Elections committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB1780 · 2025-01-08
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to postage for early voting ballots voted by mail.
WHAT IT DOES
Voters mail the ballot back without paying postage.
The bill requires that the official envelope used to return a mail-in early voting ballot be prepared so voters can mail it back without paying postage, and it tells the secretary of state to write rules to carry this out. It touches voters who vote by mail, county early voting clerks, and the secretary of state, and it requires the envelope to state that return postage is prepaid. Starting with elections ordered on or after September 1, 2025, mail voters would no longer buy stamps to return their ballots, and it also repeals an existing subsection of the mail-ballot law.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Elections
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
No flags
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 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.
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56,000.00
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund
$56,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $31,000.00
- Total
- $56,000.00
consulting $31,000.00
Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.
Adam Loewy$20,000.00
Texas Sands PAC$17,000.00
Texas Sands PAC
$17,000.00
- Cash
- $17,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $17,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund
$56,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $31,000.00
- Total
- $56,000.00
consulting $31,000.00
Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.
Texas Sands PAC
$17,000.00
- Cash
- $17,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $17,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
FILED BEFORE
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Jan 8, 2025
03/14/2025 H Referred to Elections: Mar 14 2025 2:36PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Elections · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 1218 by Hinojosa (duplicate)
Subjects
Elections--Early Voting
Elections--Registration & Suffrage
SECRETARY OF STATE
Text
The text as introduced · 236 words
89R5780 LRM-D By: Bucy H.B. No. 1780 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to postage for early voting ballots voted by mail. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 86.002, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a-1) The officially prescribed carrier envelope shall be prepared so that it can be mailed free of United States postage. The secretary of state shall adopt rules necessary for the administration of this subsection. SECTION 2. Section 86.013(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) "Carrier Envelope for Early Voting Ballot," the name and official title of the early voting clerk as addressee, [ and ] the clerk's official mailing address , and an indication that return postage for the envelope and balloting materials is prepaid must be printed on the face of each official carrier envelope for a ballot to be voted by mail. SECTION 3. Section 86.002(e), Election Code, is repealed. SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. An election ordered before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.