SB511 - Relating to prohibiting an officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state from distributing certain voter registration application forms and to the notice of availability of such forms; creating criminal offenses.

      By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 511     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to prohibiting an officer or employee of this state or of a   political subdivision of this state from distributing certain voter   registration application forms and to the notice of availability of   such forms; creating criminal offenses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is   amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows:           Sec.   13.009.     DISTRIBUTION OF APPLICATION; OFFENSE.   (a)     Except as otherwise provided by a provision of this code, including   provisions of this chapter and Chapter 20, an officer or employee of   this state or of a political subdivision of this state may not,   while engaged in the actual discharge of the officer's or employee's   duties, distribute a form on which a person may apply for   registration to a person who did not request it.           (b)     An officer or employee of this state or of a political   subdivision of this state may not enter into a contract with a   third-party vendor permitting the use of public funds to distribute   a form the officer or employee would be prohibited from   distributing under Subsection (a).           (c)     Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a political party, an   elected official, or a candidate for office may distribute a form   described by Subsection (a) to a person who did not request it.           (d)     An office of a state agency or a political subdivision   at which a person may request a form on which the person may apply   for registration shall display a notice indicating that   registration forms are available on request.   A notice displayed   under this subsection shall be posted in English, Spanish, and any   other language in which election materials are required to be   provided in the political subdivision in which the office is   located under Section 272.011.           (e)     An officer or employee of this state or of a political   subdivision of this state commits an offense if the officer or   employee violates Subsection (a) or (b).           (f)     An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor,   unless the officer or employee violated Subsection (b), in which   event the offense is a Class A misdemeanor.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.