SB 1072
Eckhardt’s bill lets pregnant voters vote by mail
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 allowing pregnant individuals to vote by mail if they will be in the second or third trimester on election day.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Second or third trimester on election day qualifies.
The bill lets a registered voter vote by mail if she will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy on election day. It also widens the existing childbirth window for mail voting from three weeks to four weeks before or after election day. Pregnant voters gain a new path to a mail ballot starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 3, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1072 · 2025-02-03
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to allowing pregnant individuals to vote by mail if they will be in the second or third trimester on election day.
WHAT IT DOES
Second or third trimester on election day qualifies.
The bill lets a registered voter vote by mail if she will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy on election day. It also widens the existing childbirth window for mail voting from three weeks to four weeks before or after election day. Pregnant voters gain a new path to a mail ballot starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
ALSO NOTED · NOT CHARGED (1)
CAPTION MISMATCH · analysis confidence 40%
The caption mentions only the second and third trimester change, but the body also widens the childbirth window from three to four weeks. The extra change is small and in the same lane.
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Missing 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 Senate · Filed Feb 3, 2025
02/24/2025 S Referred to State Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 5386 by Plesa (identical)
Subjects
Elections--Early Voting
Women
PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH
Text
The text as introduced · 179 words
89R11402 LRM-D By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 1072 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to allowing pregnant individuals to vote by mail if they will be in the second or third trimester on election day. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Section 82.002, Election Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 82.002. DISABILITY OR OTHER PHYSICAL CONDITION [ CONFINEMENT FOR CHILDBIRTH ]. SECTION 2. Section 82.002(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A qualified voter is eligible for early voting by mail if the voter: (1) has a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter's health; [ or ] (2) is expecting to give birth within four [ three ] weeks before or after election day ; or (3) will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy on election day . SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.