SB 656
Eckhardt’s bill repealing Section 276.016 of the Election Code
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 the solicitation and distribution of an application to vote by mail.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
One section gone, the one on soliciting vote-by-mail applications.
The bill repeals one section of the Texas Election Code, Section 276.016. Going by the bill's caption, that section governs who may solicit and hand out applications to vote by mail. Once the bill takes effect, that section and whatever limits it sets on soliciting and distributing those applications are gone, either immediately with a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 96 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 96 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 Dec 18, 2024 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB656 · 2024-12-18
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the solicitation and distribution of an application to vote by mail.
WHAT IT DOES
One section gone, the one on soliciting vote-by-mail applications.
The bill repeals one section of the Texas Election Code, Section 276.016. Going by the bill's caption, that section governs who may solicit and hand out applications to vote by mail. Once the bill takes effect, that section and whatever limits it sets on soliciting and distributing those applications are gone, either immediately with a two-thirds vote or on 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 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 Dec 18, 2024
02/03/2025 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
Subjects
Elections--Early Voting
Elections--General
Text
The text as introduced · 96 words
89R6026 LRM-D By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 656 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the solicitation and distribution of an application to vote by mail. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 276.016, Election Code, is repealed. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.