Dutton’s bill restoring voting on parole or mandatory supervision

The text as introduced · 392 words

89R11347 JDK-D

By: Dutton
H.B. No. 3215

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to qualifications and registration of certain voters on

parole or mandatory supervision.

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

SECTION 1. Section 11.002(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) In this code, "qualified voter" means a person who:

(1) is 18 years of age or older;

(2) is a United States citizen;

(3) has not been determined by a final judgment of a

court exercising probate jurisdiction to be:

(A) totally mentally incapacitated; or

(B) partially mentally incapacitated without the

right to vote;

(4) has not been finally convicted of a felony or, if

so convicted, has:

(A) completed [ fully discharged the person's

sentence, including ] any term of incarceration[ , parole, ] or

community supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered

by any court;

(B) been released on parole or mandatory

supervision; or

(C) [ (B) ] been pardoned or otherwise released

from the resulting disability to vote;

(5) is a resident of this state; and

(6) is a registered voter.

SECTION 2. Section 13.001(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) To be eligible for registration as a voter in this

state, a person must:

(1) be 18 years of age or older;

(2) be a United States citizen;

(3) not have been determined by a final judgment of a

court exercising probate jurisdiction to be:

(A) totally mentally incapacitated; or

(B) partially mentally incapacitated without the

right to vote;

(4) not have been finally convicted of a felony or, if

so convicted, must have:

(A) completed [ fully discharged the person's

sentence, including ] any term of incarceration[ , parole, ] or

community supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered

by any court;

(B) been released on parole or mandatory

supervision; or

(C) [ (B) ] been pardoned or otherwise released

from the resulting disability to vote; and

(5) be a resident of the county in which application

for registration is made.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.