Bill Text: TX HB1218 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to postage for early voting ballots voted by mail.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB1218 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB1218-Introduced.html

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By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 1218

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to postage for early voting ballots voted by mail.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 86.002, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) The officially prescribed carrier envelope shall be
prepared so that it can be mailed free of United States postage. The
secretary of state shall adopt rules necessary for the
administration of this subsection.
SECTION 2. Section 86.013(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) "Carrier Envelope for Early Voting Ballot," the name and
official title of the early voting clerk as addressee, [and] the
clerk's official mailing address, and an indication that return
postage for the envelope and balloting materials is prepaid must be
printed on the face of each official carrier envelope for a ballot
to be voted by mail.
SECTION 3. Section 86.002(e), Election Code, is repealed.
SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act.
An election ordered before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective
date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.