HB493 - Relating to ineligibility to serve as a poll watcher.

      H.B. No. 493         AN ACT   relating to ineligibility to serve as a poll watcher.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 33.006(b), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  A certificate of appointment must:                (1)  be in writing and signed by the appointing   authority or, for an appointment for a write-in candidate under   Section 33.004, by each of the voters making the appointment;                (2)  indicate the capacity in which the appointing   authority is acting;                (3)  state the name, residence address, and voter   registration number of the appointee and be signed by the   appointee;                (4)  identify the election and the precinct polling   place or other location at which the appointee is to serve;                (5)  in an election on a measure, identify the measure   if more than one is to be voted on and state which side of the   measure the appointee represents; and                (6)  contain an affidavit executed by the appointee   stating that the appointee :                       (A)   will not have possession of a device capable   of recording images or sound or that the appointee will disable or   deactivate the device while serving as a watcher ; and                       (B)     has not been finally convicted of a felony of   the first or second degree or a felony offense in connection with   conduct directly attributable to an election .          SECTION 2.  Section 33.035, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 33.035.  INELIGIBILITY OF PERSON CONVICTED OF CERTAIN   OFFENSES  [ ELECTION OFFENSE ]. A person is ineligible to serve as a   watcher in an election if the person has been finally convicted of a   felony:                 (1)  of the first or second degree; or                 (2)   [ an offense ] in connection with conduct directly   attributable to an election.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 493 was passed by the House on May 13,   2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 86, Nays 52, 3 present, not   voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to   H.B. No. 493 on May 28, 2025, and requested the appointment of a   conference committee to consider the differences between the two   houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report   on H.B. No. 493 on June 1, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 90,   Nays 44, 2 present, not voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House               I certify that H.B. No. 493 was passed by the Senate, with   amendments, on May 26, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 26, Nays   5; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference   committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and   that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.   493 on June 1, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 23, Nays 8.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor