SB 2590
bill allowing recounts of paperless ballots with no reason
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 grounds for recounting paperless electronic voting system ballots.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
No stated reason needed for an initial recount.
The bill rewrites the recount rule so that no stated reason is needed to get an initial recount of results from paperless electronic voting systems. It touches candidates in races counted on paperless machines, county election officials who run recounts, and the secretary of state, who must write any procedures needed. Candidates shown as losing can get a recount of paperless machine results without a specific ground, and a winning candidate can get one only in the partial-recount case the bill describes, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2590 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to grounds for recounting paperless electronic voting system ballots.
WHAT IT DOES
No stated reason needed for an initial recount.
The bill rewrites the recount rule so that no stated reason is needed to get an initial recount of results from paperless electronic voting systems. It touches candidates in races counted on paperless machines, county election officials who run recounts, and the secretary of state, who must write any procedures needed. Candidates shown as losing can get a recount of paperless machine results without a specific ground, and a winning candidate can get one only in the partial-recount case the bill describes, 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
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 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.
Killam Development Ltd.$72,700.00
Killam Development Ltd.
$72,700.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $62,700.00
- Total
- $72,700.00
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Killam Development Ltd.
$72,700.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $62,700.00
- Total
- $72,700.00
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.
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 Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 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 5126 by Raymond (identical)
Subjects
Elections--Voting Systems
Text
The text as introduced · 237 words
89R13900 AB-F By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2590 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to grounds for recounting paperless electronic voting system ballots. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Section 212.0241, Election Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 212.0241. NO GROUND REQUIRED FOR PAPERLESS ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM RECOUNT. SECTION 2. Sections 212.0241(a), (b), and (c), Election Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) A ground for obtaining an initial recount as prescribed by this subchapter is not required to obtain an initial recount of paperless electronic voting system results, subject to Subsection (b). (b) A candidate for nomination or election to an office may obtain an initial recount of paperless electronic voting system results in an election in which the person was a candidate only if the candidate is shown by the election returns not to be nominated or elected. However, a candidate shown to be nominated or elected may obtain an initial recount if an opposing candidate's initial recount petition is approved for a recount that is covered by Section 212.131(c) and that does not include all of the voting system precincts in the election. (c) The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures necessary to accommodate the authorization to obtain a recount of paperless electronic voting system results without a specific ground. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.