HB 2785
online voter form must admit it registers no one
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
No flags Initial review
Rep. Linda Garcia D House 107
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 the display of certain information on the secretary of
state's Internet website prior to the completion of an online voter
registration application.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary Click to acknowledge it doesn’t register you. Submit it to the county.
The bill says that if the secretary of state lets people fill out a voter registration application on its website, the site must make the applicant click to acknowledge that filling it out does not register them and that the form must be submitted to the county voter registrar. The pop-up must block further use of the page until the applicant acknowledges it. This touches people using an online voter registration tool and the secretary of state's website, and it takes effect September 1, 2025.
Labels Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 3 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature. GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 8, 2025. Died in the Senate: never got out of the State Affairs committee.
Receipt
The receipt 89R-HB2785 · 2025-02-13
SOLD BY + 1 more author, 10 coauthors
ITEM relating to the display of certain information on the secretary of
state's Internet website prior to the completion of an online voter
registration application.
WHAT IT DOES Click to acknowledge it doesn’t register you. Submit it to the county.
The bill says that if the secretary of state lets people fill out a voter registration application on its website, the site must make the applicant click to acknowledge that filling it out does not register them and that the form must be submitted to the county voter registrar. The pop-up must block further use of the page until the applicant acknowledges it. This touches people using an online voter registration tool and the secretary of state's website, and it takes effect September 1, 2025.
TOTAL No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 7, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
HISTORY Feb 13, 2025 Filed Mar 19, 2025 Read first time Mar 19, 2025 Referred to Elections Apr 9, 2025 Scheduled for public hearing on . . . Apr 9, 2025 Considered in public hearing Apr 9, 2025 Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee Apr 9, 2025 Left pending in committee Apr 28, 2025 Considered in formal meeting Apr 28, 2025 Reported favorably w/o amendment(s) Apr 30, 2025 Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator Apr 30, 2025 Committee report distributed May 1, 2025 Committee report sent to Calendars May 2, 2025 Considered in Calendars May 6, 2025 Placed on General State Calendar May 7, 2025 Read 2nd time May 7, 2025 Passed to engrossment May 7, 2025 Record vote RV#1671 May 7, 2025 Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal May 8, 2025 Read 3rd time May 8, 2025 Passed May 8, 2025 Record vote RV#1784 May 8, 2025 Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal May 8, 2025 Reported engrossed May 8, 2025 Received from the House May 13, 2025 Read first time May 13, 2025 Referred to State Affairs FILED UNDER 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 · Jul 1, 2024 to May 26, 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC $14,000.00 Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC $14,000.00
Cash $14,000.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $14,000.00 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.
Team Sources Derived itemized flow · Oct 22, 2024 to Dec 11, 2024. 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: 100984280.
Texas Sands PAC $8,000.00 Texas Sands PAC $8,000.00
Cash $8,000.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $8,000.00 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.
Team Sources Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to May 18, 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: 100984280, 101062624.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC $7,500.00 Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC $7,500.00
Cash $7,500.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $7,500.00 Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Team Sources Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Mar 30, 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: 101011004, 101030065, 101062624.
Money Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
× Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC $14,000.00
Cash $14,000.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $14,000.00 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.
Team Sources Derived itemized flow · Oct 22, 2024 to Dec 11, 2024. 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: 100984280.
× Texas Sands PAC $8,000.00
Cash $8,000.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $8,000.00 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.
Team Sources Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to May 18, 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: 100984280, 101062624.
× Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC $7,500.00
Cash $7,500.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $7,500.00 Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Team Sources Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Mar 30, 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: 101011004, 101030065, 101062624.
Votes2
House May 8, 2025
Yea 114
Nay 32
Present, not voting 2
Absent 2
Excused 0
Names
Davis, A. Yea Louderback Nay Schoolcraft Nay Allen Yea Hernandez Yea Rodríguez Ramos Yea Hopper Nay Orr Yea Button Yea Johnson Yea Martinez Yea Walle Yea Gervin-Hawkins Yea Bumgarner Nay Buckley Yea Money Nay Harrison Nay Cain Nay Landgraf Yea Noble Nay Tepper Yea Fairly Yea Harris Davila Yea Isaac Yea Garcia Hernandez Yea Bell, C. Yea Ward Johnson Yea Cunningham Nay Geren(C) Present, not voting Turner Yea Manuel Yea Morales, C. Yea Ordaz Yea Harris Nay Vasut Nay Hefner Yea Phelan Yea Alders Nay Cook Nay Lowe Nay Spiller Yea Villalobos Yea Paul Yea Bernal Yea McLaughlin Yea Howard Yea Darby Yea Mr. Speaker Present, not voting Morales, E. Yea Campos Absent Troxclair Yea Gámez Yea Zwiener Yea Gates Yea VanDeaver Yea Wu Yea Hinojosa Yea Capriglione Yea Bonnen Yea Dutton Yea Kerwin Nay Hickland Yea Vo Yea Lozano Nay Frank Yea Talarico Yea Lopez, J. Yea Holt Nay Patterson Nay Dean Yea Barry Yea Leach Yea González, J. Yea Shofner Nay Moody Yea Bryant Yea Bucy Yea Lujan Yea McQueeney Yea Smithee Yea Jones, J. Yea Rosenthal Yea Garcia, J. Yea Pierson Nay Bell, K. Yea King Yea Richardson Yea Hull Nay Simmons Yea Garcia, L. Yea Flores Absent DeAyala Yea LaHood Yea Dorazio Yea Perez, M. Yea González, M. Yea Morgan Nay Shaheen Yea Plesa Yea Olcott Nay Schofield Yea Little Nay Meyer Yea Schatzline Nay Collier Yea Longoria Yea Curry Yea Dyson Yea Morales Shaw Yea Cortez Yea Guerra Yea Anchía Yea Romero Yea Lopez, R. Yea Bowers Yea Hayes Yea Raymond Yea Reynolds Yea Guillen Yea Bhojani Yea Harless Yea Thompson Yea Muñoz Yea Slawson Nay Luther Yea Cole Yea Gerdes Nay Kitzman Yea Lambert Yea Toth Nay Lalani Yea Leo Wilson Nay Canales Yea Wilson Yea Meza Yea Hunter Yea Craddick Yea Oliverson Nay Rose Yea Tinderholt Nay Ashby Yea Martinez Fischer Yea Wharton Yea Swanson Yea Jones, V. Yea Goodwin Yea Perez, V. Yea Virdell Yea Metcalf Nay Davis, Y. Yea Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.
House journal
Sources
Record 1784
HB 2785 was passed by (Record 1784): 114 Yeas, 32 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 114 (published) Nay: 32 (published) Present, not voting: 2 (published) Absent: 2 (derived from named list) Excused: 0 (derived from named list) House journal . Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
House May 7, 2025
Yea 113
Nay 26
Present, not voting 2
Absent 5
Excused 4
Names
Davis, A. Absent Louderback Yea Schoolcraft Nay Allen Yea Hernandez Yea Rodríguez Ramos Yea Hopper Nay Orr Excused Button Yea Johnson Yea Martinez Yea Walle Yea Gervin-Hawkins Yea Bumgarner Nay Buckley Yea Money Nay Harrison Nay Cain Nay Landgraf(C) Present, not voting Noble Yea Tepper Yea Fairly Yea Harris Davila Yea Isaac Yea Garcia Hernandez Yea Bell, C. Yea Ward Johnson Absent Cunningham Nay Geren Yea Turner Yea Manuel Yea Morales, C. Yea Ordaz Yea Harris Yea Vasut Nay Hefner Yea Phelan Yea Alders Absent Cook Nay Lowe Nay Spiller Absent Villalobos Yea Paul Yea Bernal Yea McLaughlin Yea Howard Yea Darby Yea Mr. Speaker Present, not voting Morales, E. Yea Campos Yea Troxclair Yea Gámez Yea Zwiener Yea Gates Yea VanDeaver Yea Wu Yea Hinojosa Yea Capriglione Yea Bonnen Yea Dutton Yea Kerwin Yea Hickland Yea Vo Yea Lozano Yea Frank Yea Talarico Yea Lopez, J. Yea Holt Nay Patterson Nay Dean Yea Barry Yea Leach Yea González, J. Yea Shofner Nay Moody Yea Bryant Yea Bucy Yea Lujan Yea McQueeney Yea Smithee Excused Jones, J. Yea Rosenthal Yea Garcia, J. Yea Pierson Nay Bell, K. Yea King Excused Richardson Nay Hull Nay Simmons Yea Garcia, L. Yea Flores Yea DeAyala Yea LaHood Yea Dorazio Yea Perez, M. Yea González, M. Yea Morgan Nay Shaheen Yea Plesa Yea Olcott Nay Schofield Yea Little Nay Meyer Yea Schatzline Nay Collier Yea Longoria Yea Curry Yea Dyson Yea Morales Shaw Yea Cortez Yea Guerra Yea Anchía Yea Romero Yea Lopez, R. Yea Bowers Yea Hayes Yea Raymond Yea Reynolds Yea Guillen Yea Bhojani Yea Harless Yea Thompson Yea Muñoz Yea Slawson Nay Luther Yea Cole Yea Gerdes Nay Kitzman Excused Lambert Yea Toth Nay Lalani Yea Leo Wilson Nay Canales Yea Wilson Yea Meza Yea Hunter Yea Craddick Yea Oliverson Nay Rose Yea Tinderholt Nay Ashby Yea Martinez Fischer Yea Wharton Yea Swanson Yea Jones, V. Yea Goodwin Yea Perez, V. Yea Virdell Absent Metcalf Yea Davis, Y. Yea Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.
House journal
Sources
Record 1671
HB 2785 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1671): 113 Yeas, 26 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 113 (published) Nay: 26 (published) Present, not voting: 2 (published) Absent: 5 (derived from named list) Excused: 4 (derived from named list) House journal . Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Witnesses12
For 9
Against 2
On 1
Names
For
ACLU of Texas 1 registration Self 4 registrations Self; Harris county ballot security 1 registration Self; MOVE Texas Civic Fund 1 registration Texas Civil Rights Project 1 registration Travis County Commissioners Court 1 registration
Against
On
Texas Secretary of State 1 registration
Sources
12 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.
Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.
House witness list . Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.
Fiscal No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 7, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
How this was graded Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric .
Sources
Texas House · Filed Feb 13, 2025
05/13/2025 S Referred to State Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Coauthors House committee · Elections · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee
Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects Elections--Registration & Suffrage
Electronic Information Systems
INTERNET
SECRETARY OF STATE
Text The text as introduced · 177 words
89R12120 JDK-D
By: Garcia of Dallas
H.B. No. 2785
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the display of certain information on the secretary of
state's Internet website prior to the completion of an online voter
registration application.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 31.016, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:
(f) If the secretary of state adopts a procedure for the
completion of a voter registration application on the secretary of
state's Internet website, on completion of the voter registration
application, the Internet website must display a message requiring
the applicant to electronically acknowledge that:
(1) completion of the voter registration application
does not constitute registration to vote; and
(2) a completed voter registration application must be
submitted to the applicable voter registrar.
(g) The message required under Subsection (f) must appear in
a format that prevents further interaction with the web page until
the applicant executes the acknowledgement.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 
