Monitoring the SessionSB 196
Filed
Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade
relating to the availability of paper ballots for a person voting by personal appearance.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Ask for paper, get paper. Every polling place must be ready to print extra ballots.
The bill requires election officials to give a paper ballot to any in-person voter who asks for one. It also requires the office that buys election supplies to provide the means to print extra paper ballots at every precinct and early voting polling place, unless a precinct already has a ballot for every registered voter. Starting with elections ordered after it takes effect, Texans voting in person can choose paper over a machine, and polling places must be ready to print paper ballots.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 396 (Died in committee) and 89R SB 104 (Died in committee). Checked against 88R and 89R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 396 (Died in committee) and 89R SB 104 (Died in committee). 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.
90R-SB196 · 2026-11-09
relating to the availability of paper ballots for a person voting by personal appearance.
Ask for paper, get paper. Every polling place must be ready to print extra ballots.
The bill requires election officials to give a paper ballot to any in-person voter who asks for one. It also requires the office that buys election supplies to provide the means to print extra paper ballots at every precinct and early voting polling place, unless a precinct already has a ballot for every registered voter. Starting with elections ordered after it takes effect, Texans voting in person can choose paper over a machine, and polling places must be ready to print paper ballots.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
THE TEXT
“An election officer shall provide a paper ballot to a voter who requests a paper ballot.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill changes how Texans vote in person by giving every in-person voter a right to a paper ballot on request.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
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 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.
$135,000.00
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 · Sep 12, 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.
Report IDs: 100987789, 101010195, 101040645, 101069307, 101073278.
$116,000.00
Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 5, 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: 101010195, 101033131, 101073278.
$100,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 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: 101073278.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$135,000.00
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 · Sep 12, 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.
Report IDs: 100987789, 101010195, 101040645, 101069307, 101073278.
$116,000.00
Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 5, 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: 101010195, 101033131, 101073278.
$100,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 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: 101073278.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 3 times: 88R, 89R and now. Checked against 88R and 89R only.
by Sen. Hall, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Feb 15, 2023: Referred to State Affairs
Relating to the availability of paper ballots for a person voting by personal appearance.
Caption, 88R bill history
by Sen. Hall, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Feb 3, 2025: Referred to State Affairs
Relating to the availability of paper ballots for a person voting by personal appearance.
Caption, 89R bill history
Texas Senate · Filed Nov 9, 2026
11/09/2026 S Filed
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:40 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Elections--Early Voting
Elections--Registration & Suffrage
The text as introduced · 307 words
90R1385 PRL-D By: Hall S.B. No. 196 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the availability of paper ballots for a person voting by personal appearance. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 51.005(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The authority responsible for procuring the election supplies for an election shall provide : (1) for each election precinct , a number of ballots equal to at least the percentage of voters who voted in that precinct in the most recent corresponding election plus 25 percent of that number ; and (2) unless the number of ballots provided to an election precinct is equal to the total number of registered voters in the precinct, the means to print additional paper ballots at each precinct polling place and early voting polling place . SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 125, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 125.0071 to read as follows: Sec. 125.0071. PROVISION OF PAPER BALLOT TO CERTAIN VOTERS. (a) An election officer shall provide a paper ballot to a voter who requests a paper ballot. (b) The secretary of state may prescribe procedures to implement this section. SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. An election ordered before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 4. 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, 2027.