Cain Citizenship Bill Accepts Any ID From The Immigration Agency

The text as introduced · 325 words

89R2278 PRL-D

By: Cain
H.B. No. 892

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring a person to submit proof of citizenship to

register to vote.

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

SECTION 1. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as

follows:

(a) A person desiring to register to vote must submit an

application and proof of citizenship as required under Subsection

(a-1) to the registrar of the county in which the person resides.

Except as provided by Subsection (e), an application must be

submitted by personal delivery, by mail, or by telephonic facsimile

machine in accordance with Sections 13.143(d) and (d-2).

(a-1) A person desiring to register to vote shall submit to

the registrar a copy of one of the following documents:

(1) a United States passport or passport card issued

to the person;

(2) a certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a

United States state or territory, or the District of Columbia;

(3) United States citizenship papers issued to the

person;

(4) identification issued by the agency of the United

States responsible for citizenship and immigration; or

(5) for citizens born abroad, a certificate of report

of birth or consular report of birth abroad issued by the United

States Department of State.

SECTION 2. Section 13.039(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) On receipt of a registration application, a volunteer

deputy registrar shall review it for completeness in the

applicant's presence and verify the applicant's citizenship using

the proof of citizenship required by Section 13.002(a-1) .

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only

if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature,

Regular Session, 2025, to require a person to submit proof of

citizenship to register to vote is approved by the voters. If that

amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.