Monitoring the Session

SB 109

bill lets poll watchers autograph the closing tape

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Bob HallRSenate 2

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 procedure for closing a polling place.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Up to three. Optional. Nothing about counting or closing changes.

The bill lets poll watchers sign the tape printed when a polling place closes under Section 61.002 of the Election Code. Up to three watchers who are present may add their signatures. On the ground, watchers get an optional way to put their names on the closing tape, and nothing else about counting or closing changes.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 915 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 915 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.QUICK READ: 76 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 76 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB109 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Sen. Bob HallRSenate 2

ITEM

relating to the procedure for closing a polling place.

WHAT IT DOES

Up to three. Optional. Nothing about counting or closing changes.

The bill lets poll watchers sign the tape printed when a polling place closes under Section 61.002 of the Election Code. Up to three watchers who are present may add their signatures. On the ground, watchers get an optional way to put their names on the closing tape, and nothing else about counting or closing changes.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER

ELECTION INTEGRITY THEATER

THE TEXT

“Any watcher present, but not more than three, may sign a”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill gives watchers an optional signature on the closing tape and does not change how votes are counted.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Bob Hall

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$135KTexans United for a Conservative Majority PAC$116KBryan Hughes Campaign$100K

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 23, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$135,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$135,000.00

Cash
$129,000.00
Paid by others
$6,000.00
Total
$135,000.00
polling $6,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 12, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.

Report IDs: 100987789, 101010195, 101040645, 101069307, 101073278.

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC$116,000.00

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

$116,000.00

Cash
$110,000.00
Paid by others
$6,000.00
Total
$116,000.00
polling $6,000.00

Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 5, 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.

Report IDs: 101010195, 101033131, 101073278.

Bryan Hughes Campaign$100,000.00

Bryan Hughes Campaign

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 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.

Report IDs: 101073278.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$135,000.00

Cash
$129,000.00
Paid by others
$6,000.00
Total
$135,000.00
polling $6,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 12, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.

Report IDs: 100987789, 101010195, 101040645, 101069307, 101073278.

×

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

$116,000.00

Cash
$110,000.00
Paid by others
$6,000.00
Total
$116,000.00
polling $6,000.00

Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 5, 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.

Report IDs: 101010195, 101033131, 101073278.

×

Bryan Hughes Campaign

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 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.

Report IDs: 101073278.

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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 915

by Sen. Hall, same lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Mar 3, 2023: Referred to State Affairs

Relating to the procedure for closing a polling place.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 12, 2024

02/03/2025 S Referred to State Affairs

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Elections--Administration

Elections--Election Officers

Elections--General

Text

The text as introduced · 76 words

89R2494 PRL-D

By: Hall
S.B. No. 109

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the procedure for closing a polling place.

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

SECTION 1. Section 61.002, Election Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) Any watcher present, but not more than three, may sign a

tape printed under this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.