Bucy’s bill restoring votes after prison release

The text as introduced · 379 words

89R4341 TSS-D

By: Bucy
H.B. No. 4594

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to qualifications and registration of certain voters

convicted of a felony.

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, is not currently incarcerated for that offense [ has:

[ (A) fully discharged the person's sentence,

including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or

completed a period of probation ordered by any court; or

[ (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 not currently be incarcerated for that offense

[ have:

[ (A) fully discharged the person's sentence,

including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or

completed a period of probation ordered by any court; or

[ (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.