Hopper Bill Makes Every Texas Voter Register Again Every Four Years

The text as introduced · 563 words

89R4953 MLH-D

By: Hopper
H.B. No. 3936

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the cancellation of all voter registrations following

each presidential election; making conforming changes to voter

registration and maintenance procedures.

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

SECTION 1. Section 13.142(c), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(c) An initial certificate takes effect on the effective

date of the registration and expires on the [ following ] January 1

immediately following the next gubernatorial election [ of an

even-numbered year ].

SECTION 2. Sections 14.001(a), (c), and (d), Election Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(a) On or after November 15 but before December 6 of each

[ odd-numbered ] year with a gubernatorial election , the registrar

shall issue a voter registration certificate to each voter in the

county whose registration is effective on the preceding November 14

and whose name does not appear on the suspense list.

(c) A renewal certificate is valid until the [ for two years

beginning on ] January 1 immediately following the next presidential

election [ its issuance ].

(d) At the time the registrar issues an initial certificate

for a voter whose registration will be effective after November 14

of each [ an odd-numbered ] year with a gubernatorial election and

before January 1 of the following year, the registrar shall also

issue the voter a renewal certificate.

SECTION 3. Section 14.023(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) After January 1 but not later than March 1 of each

[ even-numbered ] year, the registrar shall deliver a confirmation

notice in accordance with Section 15.051 to each voter whose name

appears on the suspense list under this subchapter.

SECTION 4. Section 16.032, Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 16.032. CANCELLATION FOLLOWING END OF SUSPENSE LIST

PERIOD. If on January 1 [ November 30 ] following the first [ second ]

general election for state and county officers that occurs after

the date the voter's name is entered on the suspense list a

registered voter's name appears on the suspense list, the registrar

shall cancel the voter's registration unless the name is to be

deleted from the list under Section 15.022 or 15.023.

SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Election Code, is

amended by adding Section 16.040 to read as follows:

Sec. 16.040. CANCELLATION FOLLOWING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, on January 1

of each year immediately following a presidential election, the

registrar shall cancel all voter registrations.

(b) A cancellation under this section may not be challenged

or reinstated under this chapter.

(c) Following cancellation under this section, a person

desiring to register to vote must submit an application for

registration under Chapter 13.

SECTION 6. Section 16.061, Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 16.061. RIGHT TO CHALLENGE CANCELLATION. A person

whose voter registration is canceled may challenge the cancellation

at a hearing before the registrar . This section does not apply to a

person whose voter registration is canceled under Section 16.040 .

SECTION 7. Sections 13.142(c) and 14.001(c), Election Code,

as amended by this Act, apply only to a voter registration

certificate for which an application is received by the voter

registrar on or after September 1, 2025.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.