HB590 - Relating to notification by the secretary of state when a person convicted of a felony may register to vote.

  89R1510 LRM-D     By: Bucy H.B. No. 590       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to notification by the secretary of state when a person   convicted of a felony may register to vote.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 13.007, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:           (d)     It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this   section that for a person not eligible to vote under Section   13.001(a)(4):                 (1)     the person represented on a registration   application that the person is eligible to register to vote; and                 (2)     the person received notice under Section   15.029(c).          SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 15, Election Code, is   amended by adding Section 15.029 to read as follows:           Sec.   15.029.     NOTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY BY   SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) This section applies to a person who is   ineligible to vote in this state under Section 13.001(a)(4) because   the person was finally convicted of a felony.           (b)     The secretary of state shall coordinate with the Texas   Department of Criminal Justice, the Department of Public Safety,   and any other relevant agency to determine when a person to whom   this section applies is no longer ineligible to vote or apply for   voter registration under Section 13.001(a)(4)(A) or (B).           (c)     At the time a person to whom this section applies is no   longer ineligible to vote under Section 13.001(a)(4)(A) or (B), the   secretary of state shall use best efforts to provide the person   with:                 (1)     a notice informing the person in plain language   that the person's felony conviction no longer disqualifies the   person from being eligible to register to vote, including a   complete list of eligibility requirements;                 (2)  instructions for registration; and                 (3)  a voter registration application.           (d)     The secretary of state shall post on the secretary's   Internet website a generic version of the notice described by   Subsection (c)(1).           (e)     The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to   administer this section.          SECTION 3.  Section 64.012, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:           (e)     It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under   Subsection (a)(1) that the person received notice under Section   15.029(c).          SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act in amending   Sections 13.007 and 64.012, Election Code, apply only to an offense   committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense   committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the   law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is   continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section,   an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if   any element of the offense occurred before that date.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.