Monitoring the Session

HB 519

one mail ballot application now covers the runoff too

Filed

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. John H. Bucy IIIDHouse 136

Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade

Caption

relating to an application for an early voting ballot by mail.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Runoff ballot comes by default unless you opt out. Starts 2027.

This bill makes a Texas application to vote by mail count automatically for both the main election and any runoff that follows. Today a voter has to choose to apply for both on the same form. Under this bill, mail voters get a runoff ballot by default unless they ask not to, starting September 1, 2027.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 374 (Died in committee) and 89R HB 2442 (Did not pass). Checked against 88R and 89R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 374 (Died in committee) and 89R HB 2442 (Did not pass). Filed in 3 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R and 89R only.TRY NO. 3. Filed in 3 sessions: 88R, 89R and 90R. Checked against 88R and 89R only.

Receipt

The receipt

90R-HB519 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

Rep. John H. Bucy IIIDHouse 136

ITEM

relating to an application for an early voting ballot by mail.

WHAT IT DOES

Runoff ballot comes by default unless you opt out. Starts 2027.

This bill makes a Texas application to vote by mail count automatically for both the main election and any runoff that follows. Today a voter has to choose to apply for both on the same form. Under this bill, mail voters get a runoff ballot by default unless they ask not to, starting September 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
FILED UNDER

ELECTION RULE CHANGES

THE TEXT

…“election and for any resulting runoff election”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill changes vote-by-mail rules so one application covers the runoff by default, unless the voter opts out.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

John H. Bucy III

Donors

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56KAdam Loewy$20,000Texas Sands PAC$17K

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 · Oct 28, 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.

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56,000.00

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$56,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$31,000.00
Total
$56,000.00
consulting $31,000.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.

Adam Loewy$20,000.00
Texas Sands PAC$17,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$17,000.00

Cash
$17,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$17,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.

Money

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

×

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$56,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$31,000.00
Total
$56,000.00
consulting $31,000.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$17,000.00

Cash
$17,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$17,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.

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 a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 3 times: 88R, 89R and now. Checked against 88R and 89R only.

88R HB 374

by Rep. Bucy, same lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 9, 2023: Referred to State Affairs

Relating to an application for an early voting ballot by mail.

Caption, 88R bill history

89R HB 2442

by Rep. Bucy, same lead author · Did not pass · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 15, 2025: Failed to pass

Relating to an application for an early voting ballot by mail.

Caption, 89R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026

11/09/2026 H Filed

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:34 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

Elections--Early Voting

Elections--Primaries

Text

The text as introduced · 201 words

90R594 JDK-D

By: Bucy
H.B. No. 519

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an application for an early voting ballot by mail.

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

SECTION 1. Section 84.001, Election Code, is amended by

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

follows:

(e) Except as provided by Subsection (e-1), an application

[ An applicant ] for a ballot to be voted by mail serves as an

application both [ may apply ] for a ballot [ ballots ] for the main

election and for any resulting runoff election [ on the same

application ]. If an application [ for the main election and any

resulting runoff ] is not timely for the main election, it will be

considered timely for any resulting runoff if received not later

than the deadline, determined using the date of the runoff

election, for submitting a regular application for a ballot to be

voted by mail.

(e-1) An applicant for a ballot to be voted by mail for the

main election may request not to receive a ballot for a resulting

runoff election.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.