Bill > SB505

This bill expands the Texas Secretary of State's authority to provide administrative oversight of county election offices, removing previous population restrictions and creating a new process for addressing potential election irregularities. The bill establishes a formal mechanism for requesting explanations about election procedures, where candidates, party chairs, election judges, and political committee heads can request detailed information about potential election issues from county clerks. If unsatisfied with county-level responses, these individuals can then request an audit from the Secretary of State, who must investigate and potentially conduct a comprehensive review. The Secretary of State gains expanded powers to order administrative oversight of county election offices and can now impose civil penalties of $500 per violation if election authorities do not promptly remedy identified issues. The bill also allows the Secretary of State to potentially terminate the employment of a county elections administrator if recurring election administration problems are not resolved. These provisions apply to elections held on or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025, and are designed to increase transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in local election administration.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB505