Bill Text: TX HB2585 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to automatic voter registration of students enrolled in public institutions of higher education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-13 - Referred to Elections [HB2585 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB2585-Introduced.html
88R13937 LRM-D | ||
By: Thierry | H.B. No. 2585 |
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relating to automatic voter registration of students enrolled in | ||
public institutions of higher education. | ||
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. VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH INSTITUTIONS OF | ||
HIGHER EDUCATION. (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 is enrolled in an institution of | ||
higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code. | ||
(b) A student's application for enrollment in an | ||
institution of higher education with an indication provided by | ||
Section 20.133(b) that the enrollment is not for voter registration | ||
purposes is not subject to this section. | ||
(c) The secretary of state shall adopt rules and prescribe | ||
procedures for the implementation of this section. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 20.001, Election Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: | ||
(f) Each institution of higher education, as defined by | ||
Section 61.003, Education Code, is designated as a voter | ||
registration agency. | ||
SECTION 3. Chapter 20, Election Code, is amended by adding | ||
Subchapter F to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER F. INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION | ||
Sec. 20.131. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "institution | ||
of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, | ||
Education Code. | ||
Sec. 20.132. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other | ||
provisions of this chapter apply to an institution of higher | ||
education except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or | ||
Section 13.009. | ||
Sec. 20.133. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. (a) An institution | ||
of higher education shall consider each person of voting age who | ||
enrolls at the institution an applicant for voter registration, | ||
except as otherwise indicated by the person. | ||
(b) An institution of higher education shall prescribe and | ||
use a form and procedure that combines the institution's | ||
application for enrollment with an officially prescribed voter | ||
registration application form. The form and procedure must include | ||
the option for an applicant to provide an appropriate address at the | ||
time of enrollment in the institution. The form must allow an | ||
applicant to indicate that the applicant does not wish the | ||
applicant's enrollment to be used for voter registration purposes. | ||
(c) The design, content, and physical characteristics of | ||
the institution's forms must be approved by the secretary of state. | ||
Sec. 20.134. RULES. The secretary of state shall prescribe | ||
additional procedures as necessary to implement this subchapter. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |