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SB618
2nd Reading in Other Chamber Authored by Kevin Sparks (R) View at Source
Caption: Relating to the unlawful altering of election procedures; providing a civil penalty. Initially Referred to Senate State Affairs Committee, chaired by a Republican Last Referred to House Elections Committee, chaired by a Republican This bill would cost taxpayers $1,771,950.00 over five years, according to the Legislative Budget Bureau.
SB 618 seeks to prevent public and election officials from altering election procedures without express authorization under Texas law or rules. It establishes a process for investigation by the Secretary of State and imposes civil penalties for noncompliance, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per day, enforced by the Attorney General. The penalties collected will be deposited into the state treasury. Confidentiality of investigations is preserved unless further actions are dismissed.
(S) Alders signed onto the bill as (S) Curry signed onto the bill as (S) Harris signed onto the bill as (S) Hayes signed onto the bill as (S) Hickland signed onto the bill as (S) Kerwin signed onto the bill as (S) Leach signed onto the bill as (S) Little signed onto the bill as (S) Metcalf signed onto the bill as (S) Money signed onto the bill as (S) Richardson signed onto the bill as (S) Shofner signed onto the bill as (S) Slawson signed onto the bill as (S) Troxclair signed onto the bill as (S) Virdell signed onto the bill as
Dec 13, 2024
(S) Sparks signed onto the bill as 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
Mar 4, 2025
(S) Kolkhorst signed onto the bill as Coauthor (S) Co-author authorized
Mar 12, 2025
(S) Hagenbuch signed onto the bill as Coauthor (S) Co-author authorized
Mar 24, 2025
(S) Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (S) Considered in public hearing (S) Testimony taken in committee (S) Left pending in committee
Mar 27, 2025
(S) Considered in public hearing (S) Vote taken in committee
Apr 1, 2025
(S) Reported favorably as substituted (S) Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Apr 10, 2025
(S) Creighton signed onto the bill as Coauthor (S) Co-author authorized (S) Placed on intent calendar
Apr 23, 2025
(S) Middleton signed onto the bill as Coauthor (S) Co-author authorized (S) Rules suspended-Regular order of business (S) Record vote
20250423_SB618_2R: Yea 21 (R 20, D 1) - Nay 10 (R 0, D 10)
You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC by selecting the PAC from the list below:
(S) Record vote (S) Reported engrossed
Apr 25, 2025
(H) Received from the Senate
Apr 28, 2025
(H) Read first time (H) Referred to the House Elections, chaired by a Republican
May 20, 2025
(H) Considered in formal meeting (H) Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 23, 2025
(H) Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (H) Committee report distributed (H) Committee report sent to Calendars
May 24, 2025
(H) Considered in Calendars
May 26, 2025
(H) Placed on General State Calendar
May 28, 2025
(H) Read 2nd time (H) Point of order sustained (H) Returned to committee
Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill
Against
(Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Alura Chavez for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Andrew Hendrickson for American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Carolyn Mcduff for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Christopher Engstrom for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Emily French for Common Cause Texas (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Joseph Chavez for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Karla Montilla for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Katy Schmader for Texas Democratic Party (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Kayla Reese for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Lauren Patton for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Lillian Raemsch for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Marion Fetters for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Masha Davis for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Matt Simpson for American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Micah Taylor for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Patricia Murley for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Sandra Gavrilla for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Sarah Berel-Harrop for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Sarah Cohen for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Steven Deline for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Valerie Simmons for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Veronikah Warms for Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Zoe Wilkerson for self
For
(Mon 3/24/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Debbie Lindstrom for self (with Citizens Defending Freedom) (Mon 3/24/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Dennis London for self (with Grassroots America We The People) (Mon 3/24/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Dr. Pressley for True Texas Elections (Mon 3/24/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as James Keller for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Judge Shepard for Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) (Mon 3/24/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Ken Moore for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Marcia Strickler for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Sheila Hemphill for self (with Texas Right To Know, Texas Hemp Industries Association) (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Cindi Castilla for self (with Texas Eagle Forum) (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Ed Johnson for self (with Harris County Ballot Security) (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Lindsey Gremont for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Michelle Evans for self (with Williamson County Republican Party) (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Terry Putnam for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Tom Glass for self (Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Wilma Putnam for self
On
(Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Christina Adkins for Texas Secretary of State
