HB 3113
bill requiring scannable ballots in hand-count counties
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
No flags Initial review
Rep. Ellen Troxclair R House 19
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 requiring the ballots of certain counties to be
scannable.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary Count by hand all you want. The ballots still scan.
The bill requires that any county counting its paper ballots by hand must still print ballots that a vote-scanning machine can read and process. It touches county election offices that choose to hand count. On the ground, hand-count counties cannot use ballot designs that machines cannot scan, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature. QUICK READ: 115 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 115 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026). GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on Apr 29, 2025. Died in the Senate: left pending in the State Affairs committee.
Receipt
The receipt 89R-HB3113 · 2025-02-20
SOLD BY + 2 more authors, 6 coauthors
ITEM relating to requiring the ballots of certain counties to be
scannable.
WHAT IT DOES Count by hand all you want. The ballots still scan.
The bill requires that any county counting its paper ballots by hand must still print ballots that a vote-scanning machine can read and process. It touches county election offices that choose to hand count. On the ground, hand-count counties cannot use ballot designs that machines cannot scan, starting September 1, 2025.
TOTAL No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version E · May 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 20, 2025 Filed Mar 20, 2025 Read first time Mar 20, 2025 Referred to Elections Apr 9, 2025 Scheduled for public hearing on . . . Apr 9, 2025 Considered in public hearing Apr 9, 2025 Committee substitute considered in committee Apr 9, 2025 Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee Apr 9, 2025 Left pending in committee Apr 14, 2025 Considered in formal meeting Apr 14, 2025 Committee substitute considered in committee Apr 14, 2025 Reported favorably as substituted Apr 16, 2025 Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator Apr 16, 2025 Committee report distributed Apr 17, 2025 Committee report sent to Calendars Apr 24, 2025 Considered in Calendars Apr 28, 2025 Placed on General State Calendar Apr 28, 2025 Read 2nd time Apr 28, 2025 Passed to engrossment Apr 28, 2025 Record vote RV#693 Apr 28, 2025 Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal Apr 29, 2025 Read 3rd time Apr 29, 2025 Passed Apr 29, 2025 Record vote RV#770 Apr 29, 2025 Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal Apr 29, 2025 Reported engrossed Apr 29, 2025 Received from the House May 5, 2025 Read first time May 5, 2025 Referred to State Affairs May 8, 2025 Scheduled for public hearing on . . . May 8, 2025 Considered in public hearing May 8, 2025 Testimony taken in committee May 8, 2025 Left pending in committee 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 · Oct 29, 2024 to Oct 21, 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 $100,000.00 Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC $100,000.00
Cash $100,000.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $100,000.00 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 · Jul 14, 2025 to Feb 3, 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: 101031227, 101040659.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC $10,000.00 Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC $10,000.00
Cash $10,000.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $10,000.00 Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Oct 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources Derived itemized flow · on Oct 2, 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: 101072162.
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee $5,083.34 Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee $5,083.34
Cash $5,000.00
Paid by others $83.34
Total $5,083.34 advertising $83.34
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Team Sources Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100982032, 101031227, 101072162.
Money Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
× Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC $100,000.00
Cash $100,000.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $100,000.00 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 · Jul 14, 2025 to Feb 3, 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: 101031227, 101040659.
× Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC $10,000.00
Cash $10,000.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $10,000.00 Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Oct 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources Derived itemized flow · on Oct 2, 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: 101072162.
× Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee $5,083.34
Cash $5,000.00
Paid by others $83.34
Total $5,083.34 advertising $83.34
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Team Sources Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100982032, 101031227, 101072162.
Votes2
House Apr 29, 2025
Yea 131
Nay 12
Present, not voting 1
Absent 5
Excused 1
Names
Davis, A. Yea Louderback Yea Schoolcraft Yea Allen Yea Hernandez Yea Rodríguez Ramos Yea Hopper Nay Orr Yea Button Yea Johnson Yea Martinez Yea Walle Excused Gervin-Hawkins Yea Bumgarner Yea Buckley Yea Money Nay Harrison Yea Cain Absent Landgraf Yea Noble Yea Tepper Yea Fairly Yea Harris Davila Yea Isaac Yea Garcia Hernandez Yea Bell, C. Yea Ward Johnson Yea Cunningham Yea Geren Yea Turner Yea Manuel Yea Morales, C. Yea Ordaz Yea Harris Yea Vasut Yea Hefner Yea Phelan Yea Alders Yea Cook Yea Lowe Nay Spiller Yea Villalobos Yea Paul Yea Bernal Yea McLaughlin Yea Howard Yea Darby Yea Mr. Speaker(C) 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 Yea Patterson Yea Dean Absent Barry Yea Leach Yea González, J. Yea Shofner Yea 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 Yea Simmons Yea Garcia, L. Absent 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 Absent Lopez, R. Yea Bowers Yea Hayes Yea Raymond Yea Reynolds Yea Guillen Yea Bhojani Yea Harless Yea Thompson Yea Muñoz Yea Slawson Yea Luther Nay Cole Yea Gerdes Yea Kitzman Yea Lambert Yea Toth Nay Lalani Yea Leo Wilson Yea Canales Yea Wilson Nay Meza Yea Hunter Yea Craddick Yea Oliverson Yea Rose Yea Tinderholt Nay Ashby Yea Martinez Fischer Yea Wharton Yea Swanson Yea Jones, V. Yea Goodwin Absent Perez, V. Yea Virdell Yea Metcalf Yea Davis, Y. Yea Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.
House journal
Sources
Record 770
HB 3113 was passed by (Record 770): 131 Yeas, 12 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 131 (published) Nay: 12 (published) Present, not voting: 1 (published) Absent: 5 (derived from named list) Excused: 1 (derived from named list) House journal . Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
House Apr 28, 2025
Yea 132
Nay 12
Present, not voting 2
Absent 3
Excused 1
Names
Davis, A. Excused Louderback Yea Schoolcraft Yea Allen Yea Hernandez Yea Rodríguez Ramos Yea Hopper Nay Orr Yea Button Yea Johnson Yea Martinez Yea Walle Yea Gervin-Hawkins Yea Bumgarner Yea Buckley Yea Money Nay Harrison Yea Cain Nay Landgraf Yea Noble Yea Tepper Yea Fairly Yea Harris Davila Yea Isaac Yea Garcia Hernandez Yea Bell, C. Yea Ward Johnson Yea Cunningham Yea Geren Yea Turner Yea Manuel Yea Morales, C. Yea Ordaz Absent Harris(C) Present, not voting Vasut Yea Hefner Yea Phelan Yea Alders Yea Cook Yea Lowe Nay Spiller Yea Villalobos Yea Paul Yea Bernal Yea McLaughlin Yea Howard Yea Darby Yea Mr. Speaker Present, not voting Morales, E. Absent 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 Yea Patterson Yea Dean Yea Barry Yea Leach Yea González, J. Yea Shofner Yea 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 Yea 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 Yea 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 Yea Luther Nay Cole Yea Gerdes Yea Kitzman Yea Lambert Yea Toth Nay Lalani Yea Leo Wilson Yea Canales Nay Wilson Yea Meza Yea Hunter Yea Craddick Yea Oliverson Yea Rose Yea Tinderholt Nay Ashby Yea Martinez Fischer Absent Wharton Yea Swanson Yea Jones, V. Yea Goodwin Yea Perez, V. Yea Virdell Yea Metcalf Yea Davis, Y. Yea Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.
House journal
Sources
Record 693
CSHB 3113 was passed to engrossment by (Record 693): 132 Yeas, 12 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 132 (published) Nay: 12 (published) Present, not voting: 2 (published) Absent: 3 (derived from named list) Excused: 1 (derived from named list) House journal . Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Witnesses18
For 10
Against 6
On 2
Names
For
Self 7 registrations Self; County & District Clerks Assoc 1 registration Self; Harris county ballot security 1 registration Self; Texas Eagle Forum 1 registration
Against
Self 4 registrations Self; Fredericksburg Tea Party 1 registration True Texas Elections 1 registration
On
Self 1 registration Texas Secretary of State 1 registration
Sources
18 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 fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version E · May 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 20, 2025
05/08/2025 S Left pending in committee
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Coauthors Sponsors House committee · Elections · Committee vote 7 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee
Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects Elections--Administration
Elections--General
Elections--Voting Systems
Text The text as introduced · 115 words
89R8481 JDK-D
By: Troxclair
H.B. No. 3113
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring the ballots of certain counties to be
scannable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 52, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 52.076 to read as follows:
Sec. 52.076. SCANNABLE BALLOTS REQUIRED IN CERTAIN
COUNTIES. (a) In this section, "automatic tabulating equipment"
has the meaning assigned by Section 121.003.
(b) For an election in a county that conducts a hand count of
voted paper ballots, the ballot must be capable of being scanned and
processed by automatic tabulating equipment.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 
