bill expanding county plans for central counting stations

The text as introduced · 493 words

89R1563 MPF-F

By: Hayes
H.B. No. 376

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the plan for the operation of a central counting

station.

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

SECTION 1. Section 127.007, Election Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsections (d) and (e)

to read as follows:

(b) The plan required under this section must include:

(1) information on [ address ] the process for comparing

the number of voters who signed the combination form or electronic

poll list with the number of votes cast for the entire election ;

(2) who will provide information to the presiding

judge of the central counting station to complete the

reconciliation of votes and voters conducted under Section

127.131(f);

(3) the date, time, and location of the second and

third logic and accuracy tests to be conducted at the central

counting station or regional tabulating center serving the central

counting station and the procedures regarding an unsuccessful logic

and accuracy test;

(4) the date, time, and place the central counting

station will operate before, on, and after election day, as

applicable;

(5) the names of the tabulation supervisor, central

counting station manager, presiding judge, and alternate presiding

judge and the party affiliations of the presiding judge and

alternate presiding judge in the central counting stations and

regional tabulating center serving the central counting station, as

applicable;

(6) the procedure regarding ballot security,

including ballot storage and chain of custody procedures from the

time the central counting station or regional tabulating center

receives a sealed ballot box under Section 127.068 through the

period for preserving the precinct election records under Section

66.058; and

(7) information regarding the livestream available to

the public under Section 127.1232 .

(c) Not later than the fifth day before election day:

(1) the [ The ] plan required under this section must be

posted on the county's Internet website in the same location that

the county clerk provides information on elections held by the

county; and

(2) a copy of the plan, including the contact

information of the persons described by Subsection (b)(5), must be

provided to the members of the county election board [ available to

the public on request not later than 5 p.m. on the fifth day before

the date of the election ].

(d) If a plan required by this section is revised after the

date the plan is posted in accordance with Subsection (c), the

county's Internet website must be updated to include:

(1) the plan with incorporated revisions; and

(2) either:

(A) a list with the date of each revision and the

section revised; or

(B) a revised version of the plan conspicuously

displaying each revision and the date of those revisions.

(e) The contact information of a person described by

Subsection (b)(5) is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,

Government Code.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.