HB 4047
Schatzline’s bill giving hand-marked paper ballots to anyone who asks
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 use of paper ballots in conducting an election.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Polling places with electronic machines hand one over on request.
The bill requires election officers at polling places that use electronic voting machines to hand a paper ballot, marked by hand, to any voter who asks for one. It touches voters, election officers and county election administrators at every polling place that uses electronic voting equipment. Starting with elections held on or after September 1, 2025, a voter can refuse the machine and vote on paper simply by asking.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 7, 2025 and referred to the House Elections committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4047 · 2025-03-07
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the use of paper ballots in conducting an election.
WHAT IT DOES
Polling places with electronic machines hand one over on request.
The bill requires election officers at polling places that use electronic voting machines to hand a paper ballot, marked by hand, to any voter who asks for one. It touches voters, election officers and county election administrators at every polling place that uses electronic voting equipment. Starting with elections held on or after September 1, 2025, a voter can refuse the machine and vote on paper simply by asking.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Elections
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Derived from itemized gifts, Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
$113,206 raised in 4 of 4 reports since Oct 27, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure. Partial total. Regular reports do not cover Jul 9, 2025 to Aug 15, 2025, Aug 15, 2025 to Sep 4, 2025.
$220,212 spent since Oct 27, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.
$54,238 cash on hand. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
$0 loans outstanding. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived sum of itemized contributions in regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Unitemized contributions are not included. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 7, 2025
03/27/2025 H Referred to Elections: Mar 27 2025 11:57AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Elections · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Elections--Administration
Elections--General
Elections--Voting Systems
Text
The text as introduced · 156 words
89R14227 MPF-D By: Schatzline H.B. No. 4047 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the use of paper ballots in conducting an election. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 125, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 125.0071 to read as follows: Sec. 125.0071. PROVISION OF PAPER BALLOT. An election officer at a polling place where an electronic voting system is used must provide a paper ballot to be marked by hand to each voter who requests one. SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an election held on or after the effective date of this Act. An election held before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the election was held, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.