SB506

Signed by Governor
Authored by Paul Bettencourt (R)
View at Source

Caption: Relating to requirements for certain petitions requesting an election and ballot propositions and to related procedures and provisions.
Initially Referred to Senate State Affairs Committee, chaired by a Republican
Last Referred to House Elections Committee, chaired by a Republican
SB 506 imposes stricter requirements for ballot propositions and petitions related to elections. It mandates that ballot language must be clear, definite, neutral, and not misleading. The bill grants the Secretary of State authority to review and potentially rewrite defective ballot propositions, introduces petition form regulations, and requires home-rule cities to comply with standardized procedures. It also provides legal remedies for mandamus actions to address noncompliance.

Primary authors: Huffman (R); Middleton (R); Parker (R); Paxton (R)
Co-authors: Hall (R)
Sponsors: Paul (R)

Nov 25, 2024


(S) Bettencourt signed onto the bill as Author
(S) Huffman signed onto the bill as Primary Author
(S) Middleton signed onto the bill as Primary Author
(S) Parker signed onto the bill as Primary Author
(S) Paxton signed onto the bill as Primary Author
(S) Received by the Secretary of the Senate
(S) Filed
 

Feb 3, 2025


(S) Read first time
(S) Referred to the Senate State Affairs, chaired by a Republican
 

Feb 4, 2025


(S) Hall signed onto the bill as Coauthor
(S) Co-author authorized
 

Apr 7, 2025


(S) Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
(S) Considered in public hearing
(S) Testimony taken in committee
(S) Left pending in committee
 

Apr 16, 2025


(S) Considered in public hearing
(S) Vote taken in committee
 

Apr 22, 2025


(S) Reported favorably as substituted
(S) Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
(S) Committee report printed and distributed
 

Apr 24, 2025


(S) Placed on intent calendar
 

Apr 30, 2025


(S) Rules suspended-Regular order of business
(S) Record vote
(S) Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment

20250430_SB506_E: Yea 23 (R 20, D 3) - Nay 8 (R 0, D 8)

Yea - A. Hinojosa; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; Campbell; Creighton; Flores; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; Hughes; J. Hinojosa; King; Kolkhorst; Middleton; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks; Zaffirini

Nay - Alvarado; Cook; Eckhardt; Gutierrez; Johnson; Menendez; Miles; West

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
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(S) Record vote
(S) Three day rule suspended
(S) Record vote
(S) Read 3rd time
(S) Passed

20250430_SB506_3R: Yea 23 (R 20, D 3) - Nay 8 (R 0, D 8)

Yea - A. Hinojosa; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; Campbell; Creighton; Flores; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; Hughes; J. Hinojosa; King; Kolkhorst; Middleton; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks; Zaffirini

Nay - Alvarado; Cook; Eckhardt; Gutierrez; Johnson; Menendez; Miles; West

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
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(S) Record vote
(S) Reported engrossed
(H) Received from the Senate
 

May 1, 2025


(H) Read first time
(H) Referred to the House Elections, chaired by a Republican
 

May 16, 2025


(H) Considered in formal meeting
(H) Committee substitute considered in committee
(H) Reported favorably as substituted
 

May 21, 2025


(H) Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
(H) Committee report distributed
 

May 22, 2025


(H) Committee report sent to Calendars
 

May 23, 2025


(H) Considered in Calendars
 

May 25, 2025


(H) Placed on General State Calendar
 

May 27, 2025


(H) Read 2nd time
(H) A Republican amendment (No. 1) from Paul amended the bill.
(H) Record vote

RV#3774: Yea 133 (R 85, D 48) - Nay 7 (R 0, D 7)
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Yea - Alders; Allen; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Campos; Capriglione; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dutton; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hickland; Hinojosa; Holt; Hopper; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Kerwin; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Lujan; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Moody; Morales, E.; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Ordaz; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Pierson; Plesa; Raymond; Richardson; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Rosenthal; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Virdell; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener

Nay - Cole; Collier; Gonzalez, J.; Hernandez; Meza; Reynolds; Rose

Absent - Guerra; Luther; Manuel; Morales, C.; Morales Shaw

Present, Not Voting - Burrows; Money

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Penny Morales Shaw: "When Record No. 3774 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:


(H) A Democrat amendment (No. 2) from Bucy amended the bill.
(H) Record vote

RV#3775: Yea 136 (R 83, D 53) - Nay 0 (R 0, D 0)
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Yea - Alders; Allen; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Campos; Capriglione; Cole; Collier; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dutton; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hernandez; Hickland; Hinojosa; Holt; Hopper; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; Jones, J.; Kerwin; King; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leo Wilson; Little; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Lujan; Luther; Martinez Fischer; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Meza; Money; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Ordaz; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Pierson; Plesa; Raymond; Reynolds; Richardson; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Rosenthal; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Virdell; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener

Absent - Dyson; Gates; Guerra; Jones, V.; Kitzman; Leach; Manuel; Martinez; Morales Shaw; Rose

Present, Not Voting - Burrows

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
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(H) A Republican amendment (No. 3) from Tepper was offered.
(H) Point of order withdrawn (amendment)
(H) A Republican amendment (No. 3) from Tepper was withdrawn.
(H) Passed to 3rd reading as amended
(H) Record vote

RV#3776: Yea 111 (R 81, D 30) - Nay 21 (R 0, D 21)
View Source

Yea - Alders; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Capriglione; Cole; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dutton; Dyson; Flores; Frank; Garcia, J.; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hernandez; Hickland; Holt; Hopper; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Kerwin; King; LaHood; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Louderback; Lowe; Lujan; Martinez Fischer; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meza; Money; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales Shaw; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Pierson; Raymond; Richardson; Romero; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Virdell; Wharton; Wilson

Nay - Bowers; Campos; Collier; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Gonzalez, J.; Hinojosa; Howard; Johnson; Jones, J.; Lopez, R.; Manuel; Morales, E.; Ordaz; Plesa; Reynolds; Rodriguez Ramos; Rose; Rosenthal; Simmons; Wu

Absent - Allen; Fairly; Garcia, L.; Gates; Jones, V.; Kitzman; Lalani; Lozano; Luther; Martinez; Meyer; Walle; Ward Johnson; Zwiener

Present, Not Voting - Burrows

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Charlene Ward Johnson: "When Record No. 3776 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Erin Zwiener: "When Record No. 3776 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Morgan Meyer: "When Record No. 3776 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Penny Morales Shaw: "When Record No. 3776 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Venton Jones: "When Record No. 3776 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Yvonne Davis: "When Record No. 3776 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:


 

May 28, 2025


(H) Read 3rd time
(H) Passed
(H) Record vote

RV#3882: Yea 102 (R 83, D 19) - Nay 37 (R 0, D 37)
View Source

Yea - Alders; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bonnen; Buckley; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Canales; Capriglione; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dutton; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Garcia, L.; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gonzalez, M.; Guillen; Harless; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hickland; Holt; Hopper; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Lopez, J.; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Lujan; Luther; Manuel; Martinez; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Money; Moody; Morales, E.; Morales Shaw; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Ordaz; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Pierson; Raymond; Richardson; Romero; Rosenthal; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Tepper; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Virdell; Wharton; Wilson

Nay - Allen; Bernal; Bhojani; Bowers; Bryant; Bucy; Campos; Cole; Collier; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Goodwin; Hernandez; Howard; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Lalani; Lopez, R.; Martinez Fischer; Meza; Morales, C.; Plesa; Reynolds; Rodriguez Ramos; Rose; Simmons; Thompson; Vo; Ward Johnson; Wu; Zwiener

Absent - Frank; Phelan; Walle

Present, Not Voting - Burrows

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Christian Manuel: "When Record No. 3882 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

James Frank: "When Record No. 3882 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

John Bucy: "When Record No. 3882 was taken, I was shown voting no. I intended to vote yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Penny Morales Shaw: "When Record No. 3882 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:


(S) House passage as amended reported
 

May 30, 2025


(S) House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
(S) Read
(S) Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
(S) Record vote
 

May 31, 2025


(H) Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
(S) Reported enrolled
 

Jun 1, 2025


(S) Signed in the Senate
 

Jun 2, 2025


(H) Signed in the House
(E) Sent to the Governor
 


(S) Paul signed onto the bill as Sponsor

Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill

Against

(Mon 4/7/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Mary Ibarra for American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
(Mon 4/7/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Veronikah Warms for Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP)
 

For

(Mon 4/7/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Ed Johnson for self (with Harris County Ballot Security)
(Mon 4/7/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Bryan Flatt for Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)
(Mon 4/7/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Lucy Trainor for self
 

On

(Mon 4/7/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Christina Adkins for Texas Secretary of State



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