bill to put every Texas ballot race on one website

The text as introduced · 871 words

90R1822 JDK-D

By: Bucy
H.B. No. 504

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the secretary of state posting on the secretary of

state's Internet website databases containing certain information

about elections.

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

SECTION 1. Section 4.003, Election Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as

follows:

(e) The authority responsible for giving notice of the

election shall deliver :

(1) to the secretary of state a copy of the notice of a

consolidated precinct required by Subsection (b) not later than the

date of the election ; and

(2) in January of each year information on an election

for a partisan office, the office of mayor, or a position on the

governing body of a city or board of trustees of an independent

school district for the secretary of state's database of election

information under Section 31.023 in an electronic format as

follows:

(A) if the authority is a county or political

party, as required by the secretary of state; or

(B) if the authority is a city or school

district, to the county in which the authority is located .

(e-1) A county receiving information under Subsection

(e)(2)(B) shall forward the information to the secretary of state.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is

amended by adding Sections 31.023 and 31.024 to read as follows:

Sec. 31.023. INTERNET DATABASE OF ELECTION INFORMATION.

(a) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary of state's

public Internet website a database containing information on each

election for a partisan office, the office of mayor, or a position

on the governing body of a city or board of trustees of an

independent school district provided under Sections 4.003(e) and

(e-1). The database must include the following information:

(1) the name of the authority holding the election;

(2) each office to be filled at the election;

(3) whether the office is elected at large or by

district;

(4) the duration of the term of office; and

(5) the dates of the preceding and next election for

the office.

(b) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to

implement this section.

Sec. 31.024. INTERNET DATABASE FOR INCUMBENTS AND

CANDIDATES. (a) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary

of state's public Internet website a database containing

information about each holder of and candidate for any partisan

elected office, office of mayor, or position on the governing body

of a city or a board of trustees of an independent school district

in this state.

(b) The database must include the following information

about a holder of a partisan elected office, the office of mayor, or

a position on the governing body of a city or board of trustees of an

independent school district:

(1) name;

(2) office title, including any district, place, or

position and a notation that the person is an incumbent;

(3) if the office is elected at large or by district;

(4) date of the previous and next election for the

office;

(5) public mailing address;

(6) public telephone number, if available; and

(7) public e-mail address, if available.

(c) The database must include the following information

about a candidate for a partisan elected office, the office of

mayor, or a position on the governing body of a city or board of

trustees of an independent school district:

(1) name;

(2) office sought, including any district, place, or

position;

(3) if the office is elected at large or by district;

(4) date of the election;

(5) public mailing address;

(6) public telephone number, if available;

(7) public e-mail address, if available; and

(8) if the candidate has filed as a write-in

candidate.

(d) The county with whom a declaration of candidacy is

filed, a state or county chair of a political party, or the

presiding officer of a political party's convention shall provide

information about a candidate or officeholder to the secretary of

state. A political subdivision shall provide information about a

candidate or officeholder to the county in which the political

subdivision is located and the county shall forward that

information to the secretary of state.

(e) The secretary of state shall make the name, office, and

party affiliation of the holder of a partisan elected office, the

office of mayor, or a position on the governing body of a city or

board of trustees of an independent school district available on

the secretary of state's public Internet website for as long as the

person holds that office.

(f) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to

implement this section.

SECTION 3. Section 141.032, Election Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:

(h) A county or political party with whom an application is

filed shall provide the secretary of state with the candidate's

information required for the secretary of state's public Internet

website under Section 31.024. A political subdivision with whom an

application is filed shall provide the candidate's information to

the county in which the political subdivision is located, and the

county shall forward the candidate's information to the secretary

of state.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.