Relating to election dates.

89(R) SB 1209 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

By: Hughes, Campbell

S.B. No. 1209

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to election dates.

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

SECTION 1. Section 2.025(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) or as otherwise

provided by this code, a runoff election shall be held on a
Tuesday

[
Saturday
] designated by the secretary of state.

SECTION 2. The heading to Section 41.001, Election Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 41.001. UNIFORM ELECTION
DATE
[
DATES
].

SECTION 3. Section 41.001, Election Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read

as follows:

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, each

general or special election in this state shall be held on [
one of

the following dates:

[
(1)

the first Saturday in May in an odd-numbered

year;

[
(2)

the first Saturday in May in an even-numbered

year, for an election held by a political subdivision other than a

county, or ordered by the governor; or

[
(3)
] the first Tuesday after the first Monday in

November.

(c) Except for an election under Subsection (a) or Section

41.0011 [
or a runoff election following an election held under

Subsection (a)(2)
], an election may not be held within 30 days

before or after the date of the general election for state and

county officers, general primary election, or runoff primary

election.

(e)

Except for an election under Section 41.0011 or as

provided by Section 203.004(b), every election held in this state

shall be held on a Tuesday.

SECTION 4. Section 41.004(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) If a law outside this code other than the constitution

requires a special election subject to Section 41.001(a) to be held

within a particular period after the occurrence of a certain event,

the election shall be held on
the
[
an
] authorized uniform election

date occurring within the period unless no uniform election date

within the period affords enough time to hold the election in the

manner required by law. In that case,
Section 41.001(a) does not

apply
[
the election shall be held on the first authorized uniform

election date occurring after the expiration of the period
].

SECTION 5. Section 41.0052(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) The governing body of a political subdivision[
, other

than a county or municipal utility district,
] that holds its

general election for officers on a date other than the November

uniform election date
shall
[
may
], not later than December 31,
2025

[
2016
], change the date on which it holds its general election for

officers to the November uniform election date.

SECTION 6. Section 41.007(b), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) The runoff primary election date is the
second
[
fourth
]

Tuesday in May following the general primary election.

SECTION 7. Sections 203.013(c) and (e), Election Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(c) The election must be held on a Tuesday [
or Saturday
]

occurring not earlier than the 21st day or later than the 45th day

after the date the election is ordered.

(e) If a runoff election is necessary, it must be held on a

Tuesday [
or Saturday
] occurring not earlier than the 12th day or

later than the 25th day after the date the election is ordered.

SECTION 8. The following provisions of the Election Code

are repealed:

(1) Section 41.001(d);

(2) Section 41.0052(a-1), as added by Chapter 1160

(S.B. 1131), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023;

(3) Section 41.0052(a-1), as added by Chapter 985

(S.B. 2620), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023;

and

(4) Section 85.001(e).

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.