bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote

The text as introduced · 446 words

By: Landgraf
H.B. No. 219

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 Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) 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) An applicant submitting a registration application

must present proof that the applicant is a United States citizen to:

(1) the registrar, if the application is submitted by

personal delivery; or

(2) a Department of Public Safety employee at the

department's office, if the application is submitted by mail or by

telephonic facsimile machine.

(a-2) For purposes of Subsection (a-1), the applicant shall

present any of the following:

(1) the applicant's Texas driver's license that is

compliant with the federal REAL ID program;

(2) the applicant's Texas identification card that is

compliant with the federal REAL ID program;

(3) an original or certified copy of the applicant's

birth certificate;

(4) the applicant's unexpired United States passport

or card;

(5) the applicant's certificate of naturalization

issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services;

or

(6) the applicant's certificate of citizenship issued

by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is

amended by adding Section 13.0022 to read as follows:

Sec. 13.0022. NOTICE TO PRESENT PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP FOR

APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY MAIL OR BY TELEPHONIC FACSIMILE MACHINE.

(a) This section applies only to a registration application

submitted by mail or by telephonic facsimile machine that does not

include proof that the applicant is a United States citizen.

(b) On receipt of a registration application, the registrar

shall transmit a notice to the applicant of the requirements of

Section 13.002 (a-1) and Section 13.002 (a-2) and include

instructions to enable the applicant to satisfy those requirements.

SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to an application for voter registration submitted on or after the

effective date of this Act. An application for voter registration

submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the

law in effect when the application was submitted, and the former law

is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.