Guillen’s Citizenship Mark Skips Cards Already In Wallets

The text as introduced · 682 words

89R5290 TSS-F

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 304

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the procedure for accepting a voter who presents as

identification a personal identification certificate or driver's

license issued to the voter that indicates the voter has not

presented proof of the voter's United States citizenship to the

Department of Public Safety.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding

Section 63.0014 to read as follows:

Sec. 63.0014. ACCEPTING VOTERS WITH LIMITED VALIDITY FOR

VOTING DESIGNATOR. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of

this code, a voter who presents a personal identification

certificate or driver's license as photo identification with a

designator reading "VALID FOR VOTING ONLY WITH VERIFICATION OF

ELIGIBILITY" may only be accepted for voting if the voter also

presents proof of the voter's United States citizenship.

(b) If the requirements of Subsection (a) are not met, the

voter may be accepted for provisional voting only under Section

63.011. For a voter who is not accepted for voting under this

section, an election officer shall:

(1) inform the voter of the voter's right to cast a

provisional ballot under Section 63.011; and

(2) provide the voter with written information, in a

form prescribed by the secretary of state, that:

(A) lists the requirements for identification;

(B) states the procedure for presenting

identification under Section 65.0541;

(C) includes a map showing the location where

identification must be presented; and

(D) includes notice that if all procedures are

followed and the voter is found to be eligible to vote and is voting

in the correct precinct, the voter's provisional ballot will be

accepted.

SECTION 2. Section 63.011(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) A person to whom Section 63.001(g) , 63.0014(b), or

63.009 applies may cast a provisional ballot if the person executes

an affidavit stating that the person:

(1) is a registered voter in the precinct in which the

person seeks to vote; and

(2) is eligible to vote in the election.

SECTION 3. Section 65.0541(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) A voter who is accepted for provisional voting under

Section 63.011 because the voter does not meet the identification

requirements of Section 63.001(b) or 63.0014 may, not later than

the sixth day after the date of the election do one of the

following, as applicable :

(1) present a form of identification described by

Section 63.0101 to the voter registrar for examination; [ or ]

(2) execute an affidavit described by Section

65.054(b)(2)(B) or (C) in the presence of the voter registrar ; or

(3) present proof of the voter's United States

citizenship .

SECTION 4. Subchapter E, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 521.1017 to read as follows:

Sec. 521.1017. LIMITED VALIDITY FOR VOTING DESIGNATOR. If,

at the time a person applies for a personal identification

certificate, the person does not provide proof of the person's

United States citizenship, the personal identification certificate

issued to the person must display a designator reading "VALID FOR

VOTING ONLY WITH VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY."

SECTION 5. Subchapter F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 521.1225 to read as follows:

Sec. 521.1225. LIMITED VALIDITY FOR VOTING DESIGNATOR. If,

at the time a person applies for a driver's license, the person does

not provide proof of the person's United States citizenship, the

driver's license issued to the person must display a designator

reading "VALID FOR VOTING ONLY WITH VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY."

SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act to

Subchapters E and F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, apply only

to a personal identification certificate or driver's license issued

or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. A personal

identification certificate or driver's license issued or renewed

before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in

effect when the certificate or license was issued or renewed, and

the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.