bill opens election records within 10 days

The text as introduced · 291 words

By: Toth
H.B. No. 999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the public inspection of election records.

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

SECTION 1. Section 1.012, Election Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a), (d), and (e) and adding Subsections (f)

and (g) to read as follows:

(a) An [ Subject to Subsection (b), an ] election record that

is public information shall be made available to the public during

the regular business hours of the record's custodian not later than

10 days after the date the custodian receives a request for public

inspection .

(d) In this code, "election record" includes:

(1) anything created, distributed , or received by

government under this code;

(2) anything required by law to be kept by others for

information of government under this code; or

(3) a certificate, application, notice, report, or

other document or paper issued , created, or received by government

under this code.

(e) Except as provided by Subsection (f), an [ An ] election

record shall be available not later than the 15th day after election

day in an electronic format for a fee of not more than $50.

(f) Not later than the 60th day after election day, the

general custodian of election records shall make available for

public inspection election records that are:

(1) original voted ballots; or

(2) images of voted ballots, if a county maintains

images of voted ballots.

(g) The custodian shall adopt procedures to ensure the

redaction of any personally identifiable information of the voter

contained on a ballot before making the voted ballot available for

public inspection.

SECTION 2. Section 1.012(b), Election Code, is repealed.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.