HB2281 - Relating to automatic voter registration on interaction with a voter registration agency.

  89R6426 JDK-D     By: Jones of Harris H.B. No. 2281       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to automatic voter registration on interaction with a   voter registration agency.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is   amended by adding Sections 13.009 and 13.010 to read as follows:           Sec.   13.009.     VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF   PUBLIC SAFETY. (a)   The voter registrar of each county shall   automatically register any county resident who is eligible to vote   as provided by Section 13.001 and:                 (1)     is issued a Texas driver's license or a personal   identification card by the Department of Public Safety; or                 (2)     makes a change to a Texas driver's license or   personal identification card issued by the Department of Public   Safety.           (b)     A driver's license or personal identification card   transaction with an indication provided by Section 20.062(b) or   20.063(c) that the transaction is not for voter registration   purposes is not subject to this section.           Sec.   13.010.     VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH VOTER REGISTRATION   AGENCIES. (a)   The voter registrar of each county shall   automatically register any county resident who is eligible to vote   as provided by Section 13.001 and applies for services from a voter   registration agency under Subchapter B, Chapter 20.           (b)     An application for services is not subject to this   section if the application is accompanied by:                 (1)     an indication under Section 20.002(b) that the   transaction is not for voter registration; or                 (2)  a declination form under Section 20.036.           (c)     The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures for   the implementation of this section.          SECTION 2.  Section 20.002, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 20.002.  AGENCY-PRESCRIBED REGISTRATION APPLICATION   FORM.   (a)   A voter registration agency under this subchapter shall   prescribe and use a form and procedure that combines a form for   services from that agency with an officially prescribed voter   registration application form.           (b)     A voter registration agency under this subchapter shall   prescribe and use a form and procedure that requests a person's   address and that combines agency and voter registration functions.     The form must allow a person to indicate that a change of address is   not for voter registration purposes.           (c)     The design, content, and physical characteristics of   the agency forms must be  [ Instead of using the official voter   registration application form prescribed by the secretary of state,   a voter registration agency may use an official form prescribed by   the agency, if ] approved by the secretary of state.          SECTION 3.  Section 20.032(a), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  An appropriate agency employee shall [ routinely ] inform   each person who applies in person for agency services of the   opportunity to complete a voter registration application form and   [ on request ] shall provide nonpartisan voter registration   assistance to the applicant.          SECTION 4.  Section 20.061, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 20.061.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other   provisions of this chapter apply to the Department of Public Safety   except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or Section   13.009 .          SECTION 5.  Section 20.062(b), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The department shall prescribe and use a change of   address form and procedure that combines department and voter   registration functions. The form must allow a licensee or   cardholder to indicate that [ whether ] the change of address is not   [ also to be used ] for voter registration purposes.          SECTION 6.  Section 20.063, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 20.063.  REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. (a)  The Department   of Public Safety shall consider an application made in person, by   mail, or online at the department's Internet website [ provide to   each person who applies in person at the department's offices ] for   an original or renewal of a driver's license, a personal   identification card, or a duplicate or corrected license or card by   a person who is eligible to vote as provided by Section 13.001 an   application for [ opportunity to complete a ] voter registration .   The date of application is considered to be the date of submission   to the voter registrar for the purpose of determining the effective   date of registration [ application form ].          (b)   The Department of Public Safety shall consider a change   of address that relates to [ When the department processes ] a   license or card and that is submitted to [ for renewal by mail, ] the   department [ shall deliver to the applicant by mail a voter   registration application form.          [ (c)     A change of address that relates to a license or card   and that is submitted to the department ] in person , [ or ] by mail , or   online at the department's Internet website [ serves ] as a change in   [ of address for ] voter registration [ unless the licensee or   cardholder indicates that the change is not for voter registration   purposes ]. The date of submission of a change of address to a   department employee is considered to be the date of submission to   the voter registrar for the purpose of determining the effective   date of registration [ only ].           (c)  The registration of an eligible  [ (d)  If a completed ]   voter as required by Subsections (a) and (b) is automatic unless the   person indicates that the transaction is not for voter   registration purposes [ application submitted to a department   employee does not include the applicant's correct driver's license   number or personal identification card number, a department   employee shall enter the appropriate information on the   application. If a completed application does not include the   applicant's correct residence address or mailing address, a   department employee shall obtain the appropriate information from   the applicant and enter the information on the application ].          SECTION 7.  Section 20.065(b), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  Each weekday the department is regularly open for   business, the department shall electronically transfer to the   secretary of state the name and information designated by the   secretary of state for [ of each person who completes a ] voter   registration for each individual who is eligible to vote as   provided by Section 13.001 and applies in person, by mail, or online   at the department's Internet website for an original or renewal of a   driver's license, a personal identification card, or a duplicate or   corrected license or card [ application submitted to the   department ].  The secretary shall prescribe procedures necessary to   implement this subsection.          SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.