Relating to accommodating voters with a disability; creating a criminal offense, the official text

H.B. No. 521

AN ACT

relating to accommodating voters with a disability; creating a

criminal offense.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 61.003(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if, during the voting period

and within 100 feet of an outside door through which a voter may

enter the building in which a polling place is located or within 20

feet of a parking space designated for curbside voting under

Section 64.009, the person:

(1) loiters; or

(2) electioneers for or against any candidate,

measure, or political party.

SECTION 2. Section 64.009, Election Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a), (a-1), (f), (g), and (h) and adding

Subsections (a-3), (a-4), (a-5), (a-6), (i), and (j) to read as

follows:

(a) Subject to Subsection (a-5), if [If] a voter is

physically unable to enter the polling place without personal

assistance or likelihood of injuring the voter's health, on the

voter's request, an election officer shall deliver a ballot to the

voter at the polling place entrance or curb.

(a-1) At each polling place an area for parking not smaller

than the size of one parking space shall be reserved for voting

under this section. The area may not be designated specifically for

persons with disabilities. The area must be clearly marked with a

sign:

(1) indicating that the space is reserved for use by a

voter who is unable to enter the polling place; [and]

(2) displaying, in large font that is clearly readable

from a vehicle, a telephone number that a voter may call or text to

request assistance from an election officer at the polling place;

and

(3) displaying, in large font that is clearly readable

from a vehicle, that electioneering is prohibited within 20 feet of

the parking space.

(a-3) Before an election officer may deliver a ballot to a

voter under Subsection (a), the voter must complete and sign a form,

provided by the election officer, that contains the following

statement: "I swear (or affirm) under penalty of perjury that I am

physically unable to enter the polling place without personal

assistance or likelihood of injuring my health, or I am requesting a

reasonable accommodation under Section 1.022, Election Code.

Therefore, I am requesting to vote outside the polling place."

(a-4) Except as provided by Subchapter B, an election

officer who delivers a ballot to the voter at the polling place

entrance or curb may not provide assistance in marking the ballot.

(a-5) If four or more election officers are present at the

polling place, two election officers shall deliver a ballot to the

voter at the polling place entrance or curb.

(a-6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, if a

voter is escorting a person to whom Subsection (a) applies to the

polling place entrance or curb, on the voter's request, an election

officer shall deliver a ballot to the voter at the polling place

entrance or curb.

(f) Upon accepting a voter for voting under this section who

is provided transportation by another person, the election officer

shall ask the person providing transportation whether the person

has assisted seven or more voters voting under this section during

the early voting period and on election day. If the person indicates

that the person has assisted [A person who simultaneously assists]

seven or more voters voting under this section during the early

voting period and on election day by providing the voters with

transportation to the polling place, the person must complete and

sign a form, provided by an election officer, that contains the

person's name and address and whether the person is providing

assistance solely under this section or under both this section and

Subchapter B.

(g) A form completed under Subsection (a-3) or (f) shall be

delivered to the secretary of state as soon as practicable. The

secretary shall retain a form delivered under this section for the

period for preserving the precinct election records and shall make

the form available to the attorney general for inspection upon

request.

(h) The secretary of state shall prescribe the forms and

process required by this section and adopt rules necessary to

implement this section [form described by Subsection (f)].

(i) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally

fails to complete the form required by Subsection (f).

(j) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

SECTION 3. Section 64.0322, Election Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as

follows:

(a) A person[, other than an election officer,] who assists

a voter in accordance with this chapter is required to complete a

form stating:

(1) the name and address of the person assisting the

voter;

(2) the relationship to the voter of the person

assisting the voter; and

(3) whether the person assisting the voter received or

accepted any form of compensation or other benefit from a

candidate, campaign, or political committee.

(c) Not later than the 30th day after the date of the

election, the county clerk shall report to the secretary of state

information regarding any individual who assisted a total of seven

or more voters during the early voting period and on election day.

SECTION 4. Section 85.036(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) During the time an early voting polling place is open

for the conduct of early voting, a person may not electioneer for or

against any candidate, measure, or political party:

(1) in or within 100 feet of an outside door through

which a voter may enter the building or structure in which the early

voting polling place is located; or

(2) within 20 feet of a parking space designated for

curbside voting under Section 64.009.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 521 was passed by the House on May 13,

2025, by the following vote: Yeas 84, Nays 54, 2 present, not

voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.

No. 521 on May 29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 89, Nays 44, 2

present, not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 521 was passed by the Senate, with

amendments, on May 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays

11.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: __________________

Date

__________________

Governor