KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Texas

SB1026 • 2025

Relating to the authority of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.

Relating to the authority of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.

Elections
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Hughes
Last action
2025-05-07
Official status
05/07/2025 H Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Relating to the authority of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.

Relating to the authority of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.

What This Bill Does

  • Relating to the authority of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Considered in formal meeting

  2. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

  3. 2025-05-02 Texas Legislature Online

    Read first time

  4. 2025-05-02 Texas Legislature Online

    Referred to State Affairs

  5. 2025-05-01 Texas Legislature Online

    Received from the Senate

  6. 2025-04-30 Texas Legislature Online

    Rules suspended-Regular order of business

  7. 2025-04-30 Texas Legislature Online

    Record vote

  8. 2025-04-30 Texas Legislature Online

    Read 3rd time

  9. 2025-04-30 Texas Legislature Online

    Passed

  10. 2025-04-30 Texas Legislature Online

    Record vote

  11. 2025-04-30 Texas Legislature Online

    Reported engrossed

  12. 2025-04-29 Texas Legislature Online

    Co-author authorized

  13. 2025-04-29 Texas Legislature Online

    Placed on intent calendar

  14. 2025-04-29 Texas Legislature Online

    Rules suspended-Regular order of business

  15. 2025-04-29 Texas Legislature Online

    Record vote

  16. 2025-04-29 Texas Legislature Online

    Read 2nd time

  17. 2025-04-29 Texas Legislature Online

    Amendment(s) offered. FA1 Hughes

  18. 2025-04-29 Texas Legislature Online

    Amended

  19. 2025-04-29 Texas Legislature Online

    Vote recorded in Journal

  20. 2025-04-29 Texas Legislature Online

    Passed to engrossment as amended

  21. 2025-04-29 Texas Legislature Online

    Record vote

  22. 2025-04-15 Texas Legislature Online

    Co-author authorized

  23. 2025-04-01 Texas Legislature Online

    Not again placed on intent calendar

  24. 2025-03-26 Texas Legislature Online

    Placed on intent calendar

  25. 2025-03-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Reported favorably w/o amendments

  26. 2025-03-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Committee report printed and distributed

  27. 2025-03-20 Texas Legislature Online

    Considered in public hearing

  28. 2025-03-20 Texas Legislature Online

    Vote taken in committee

  29. 2025-03-19 Texas Legislature Online

    Co-author authorized

  30. 2025-03-13 Texas Legislature Online

    Scheduled for public hearing on . . .

  31. 2025-03-13 Texas Legislature Online

    Considered in public hearing

  32. 2025-03-13 Texas Legislature Online

    Testimony taken in committee

  33. 2025-03-13 Texas Legislature Online

    Left pending in committee

  34. 2025-03-12 Texas Legislature Online

    Co-author authorized

  35. 2025-02-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Read first time

  36. 2025-02-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Referred to State Affairs

  37. 2025-01-30 Texas Legislature Online

    Received by the Secretary of the Senate

  38. 2025-01-30 Texas Legislature Online

    Filed

Official Summary Text

Relating to the authority of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
89(R) SB 1026 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

By: Hughes, et al.

S.B. No. 1026

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the attorney general to prosecute

criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 402, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter D to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D. PROSECUTION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES PRESCRIBED BY STATE

ELECTION LAWS

Sec.

402.101.

APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to a

criminal offense under the Election Code.

Sec.

402.102.

PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO ATTORNEY GENERAL.

(a)

A law enforcement agency that submits to a local prosecuting

attorney a report stating there is probable cause to believe an

identified person has committed a criminal offense described by

Section 402.101 shall simultaneously submit a copy of that report

to the attorney general.

(b)

On request of the attorney general, a local prosecuting

attorney or law enforcement agency shall provide all information

requested regarding investigations of criminal offenses described

by Section 402.101 to assist the attorney general in performing

duties required under this subchapter.

Sec.

402.103.

PROSECUTION. Notwithstanding any other law,

the attorney general has jurisdiction to prosecute and shall

represent the state in the prosecution of a criminal offense

described by Section 402.101 if:

(1)

a law enforcement agency submits a report

described by Section 402.102(a) to the local prosecuting attorney

and the attorney general; and

(2)

six months have elapsed from the date the report

was submitted and the local prosecuting attorney has not initiated

proceedings to prosecute the offense.

SECTION 2. Sections 273.021(a) and (b), Election Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(a) The attorney general
has jurisdiction to
[
may
]

prosecute
and shall represent the state in the prosecution of
a

criminal offense prescribed by the election laws of this state
as

provided by Subchapter D, Chapter 402, Government Code
.

(b) The attorney general may appear before a grand jury in

connection with
a criminal
[
an
] offense the attorney general is

authorized to prosecute under Subsection (a).

SECTION 3. Section 273.022, Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 273.022. COOPERATION WITH LOCAL PROSECUTOR. The

attorney general may direct the county or district attorney serving

the county in which the offense is to be prosecuted to prosecute
a

criminal
[
an
] offense that the attorney general is authorized to

prosecute under Section 273.021 or to assist the attorney general

in the prosecution.

SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An

offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed

by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the

former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of

this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of

this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.