Monitoring the SessionSB 420
Died in committee
The population floor aims this new state power at only the largest counties instead of every county where ballots could run out. The caption admits 'certain counties' but never says which, so the bracket does the targeting quietly.
Bracket billInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to the authority of the secretary of state to order a new election in certain counties.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Two percent of polling places out of ballots for an hour? Do-over. Whoever paid pays again!
The bill requires the secretary of state to order a new election in a county of 2.7 million people or more when the secretary has good cause to believe at least two percent of its polling places ran out of ballots and did not get more ballots for an hour or longer after asking. It touches the secretary of state, the election officials of the largest counties, and the voters there. When that happens, the state can throw out the result and order a do-over election, set its procedures the way a court could, and bill the cost to whoever paid for the first election.
Corrected Oct 26, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 1993 (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 1993 (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.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 21, 2024 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-SB420 · 2024-11-21
relating to the authority of the secretary of state to order a new election in certain counties.
Two percent of polling places out of ballots for an hour? Do-over. Whoever paid pays again!
The bill requires the secretary of state to order a new election in a county of 2.7 million people or more when the secretary has good cause to believe at least two percent of its polling places ran out of ballots and did not get more ballots for an hour or longer after asking. It touches the secretary of state, the election officials of the largest counties, and the voters there. When that happens, the state can throw out the result and order a do-over election, set its procedures the way a court could, and bill the cost to whoever paid for the first election.
Corrected Oct 26, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 50%
The population floor aims this new state power at only the largest counties instead of every county where ballots could run out. The caption admits 'certain counties' but never says which, so the bracket does the targeting quietly.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 6, 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.
$1,140,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 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: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$1,140,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 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: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Sen. Middleton, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, May 6, 2023: Referred to Elections
Relating to the authority of the secretary of state to order a new election in certain counties.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas Senate · Filed Nov 21, 2024
02/03/2025 S Referred to State Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 11:01 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Elections--Administration
Elections--General
SECRETARY OF STATE
The text as introduced · 277 words
89R635 MPF-D By: Middleton S.B. No. 420 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of the secretary of state to order a new election in certain counties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Title 14, Election Code, is amended by adding Subtitle E to read as follows: SUBTITLE E. ORDER FOR NEW ELECTION BY SECRETARY OF STATE CHAPTER 249. SHORTAGE OF BALLOTS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES Sec. 249.001. STANDARD FOR NEW ELECTION. Notwithstanding any other law, in a county with a population of 2.7 million or more, the secretary of state shall order a new election if the secretary has good cause to believe that at least two percent of the total number of polling places in the county: (1) ran out of usable ballots during voting hours; and (2) did not receive supplemental ballots under Section 51.008 for one or more hours after making a request for supplemental ballots to the authority responsible for distributing election supplies. Sec. 249.002. PROCEDURES FOR NEW ELECTION. In establishing the procedures for a new election ordered under this chapter, the secretary of state shall have the same authority granted to a district court under Section 231.007. Sec. 249.003. EXPENSES OF NEW ELECTION. The expenses of a new election ordered by the secretary of state under this chapter are paid from the same fund and by the same authority that paid the expenses of the previous election. SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.