Monitoring the Session

HB 3697

bill making mail ballot forms readable

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Philip CortezDHouse 117

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 text on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail and other balloting materials.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

12-point type, up from 6-point. Black on white.

The bill changes the official form Texans use to apply for a mail-in ballot so it must be printed in at least 12-point type, up from 6-point, in black text on a white background. It also requires the mail ballot materials sent to voters, including the instructions, to use the same 12-point black-on-white printing. Voters who vote by mail and the election officials who print these forms are affected starting with elections ordered after September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote May 30, 2025: the House concurred in the Senate amendments. 3 days before the session ended Jun 2, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3697 · 2025-03-04

SOLD BY

Rep. Philip CortezDHouse 117 Rep. Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70

ITEM

relating to the text on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail and other balloting materials.

WHAT IT DOES

12-point type, up from 6-point. Black on white.

The bill changes the official form Texans use to apply for a mail-in ballot so it must be printed in at least 12-point type, up from 6-point, in black text on a white background. It also requires the mail ballot materials sent to voters, including the instructions, to use the same 12-point black-on-white printing. Voters who vote by mail and the election officials who print these forms are affected starting with elections ordered after September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 29, 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

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Elections
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Passed to engrossment
  17. Record vote RV#1737
  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote RV#1839
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to State Affairs
  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Vote taken in committee
  30. Reported favorably as substituted
  31. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  32. Committee report printed and distributed
  33. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  34. Placed on intent calendar
  35. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  36. Read 2nd time
  37. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Zaffirini
  38. Amended
  39. Vote recorded in Journal
  40. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  41. Vote recorded in Journal
  42. Three day rule suspended
  43. Record vote
  44. Read 3rd time
  45. Passed
  46. Record vote
  47. Senate passage as amended reported
  48. Senate Amendments distributed
  49. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  50. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  51. Record vote RV#4083
  52. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  53. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  54. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  55. Reported enrolled
  56. Signed in the House
  57. Signed in the Senate
  58. Sent to the Governor
  59. Signed by the Governor
  60. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 121 yea · 22 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 8, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Philip Cortez

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$44KTexas Sands PAC$37KPhysicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC$35K

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 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$44,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$44,000.00

Cash
$44,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$44,000.00

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 · Dec 6, 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: 100985407, 101008363, 101026711, 101035640, 101039466, 101052595, 101071633.

Texas Sands PAC$37,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash
$37,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$37,000.00

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 · Dec 6, 2024 to Oct 24, 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: 100985407, 101039466, 101071633.

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC$35,000.00

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 22, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101026711, 101035640, 101071633.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$44,000.00

Cash
$44,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$44,000.00

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 · Dec 6, 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: 100985407, 101008363, 101026711, 101035640, 101039466, 101052595, 101071633.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash
$37,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$37,000.00

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 · Dec 6, 2024 to Oct 24, 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: 100985407, 101039466, 101071633.

×

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 22, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101026711, 101035640, 101071633.

Votes6

House May 30, 2025

Yea
106
Nay
30
Present, not voting
2
Absent
6
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 4083

Representative E. Morales moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 3697. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 3697 prevailed by (Record 4083): 106 Yeas, 30 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 106 (published)
  • Nay: 30 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 28, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 28, 2025

Yea
29
Nay
2
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Zaffirini moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 3697 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 28, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSHB 3697 as amended was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 8, 2025

Yea
121
Nay
22
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
2
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1839

HB 3697 was passed by (Record 1839): 121 Yeas, 22 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 121 (published)
  • Nay: 22 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 7, 2025

Yea
126
Nay
14
Present, not voting
1
Absent
5
Excused
4
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1737

HB 3697 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1737): 126 Yeas, 14 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 126 (published)
  • Nay: 14 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses38
For
30
Against
1
On
7
Names

For

  • ACLU of Texas1 registration
  • Common Cause Texas2 registrations
  • Deeds Not Words1 registration
  • Disability Rights Texas1 registration
  • Self20 registrations
  • Self; Clean Elections Texas1 registration
  • Self; Coalition of Texans with Disabilities1 registration
  • Self; Harris county ballot security1 registration
  • Texas Civil Rights Project1 registration
  • The County and District Clerks’ Association of Texas1 registration

Against

  • Self1 registration

On

  • Secretary of State2 registrations
  • Self2 registrations
  • Self; Harris county ballot security1 registration
  • Self; Texas Association of County Election Officials1 registration
  • The County and District Clerks’ Association of Texas1 registration
Sources

38 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.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 29, 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 Mar 4, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

House committee · Elections · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Elections--Administration

Elections--Early Voting

Elections--General

Text

The text as introduced · 190 words

89R13832 MPF-D

By: Cortez
H.B. No. 3697

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the text on an application for a ballot to be voted by

mail and other balloting materials.

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

SECTION 1. Section 84.011(b), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) The officially prescribed application form for an early

voting ballot to be voted by mail must be :

(1) at least eight inches by nine inches in size ;

(2) [ and be ] printed in at least 12-point [ six-point ]

type ; and

(3) printed in black text on a white background .

SECTION 2. Section 86.002, Election Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:

(j) The balloting materials, including the instructions

under Subsection (d), must be printed:

(1) in at least 12-point type; and

(2) in black text on a white background.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act.

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