By: Zwiener H.B. No. 1235       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   Relating to the ability of a voter registrar and volunteer deputy   registrar to distribute and receive applications for a ballot to be   voted by mail.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 12, Election Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter C to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER C. APPLICATION FORMS FOR A BALLOT TO BE VOTED BY MAIL          Sec. 12.035.  APPLICATION FORMS FURNISHED BY VOTER   REGISTRAR. (a) A voter registrar shall maintain a supply of   official application forms for a ballot to be voted by mail and   furnish the forms to voters in person.          (b)  A voter may submit an application for a ballot to be   voted by mail by delivering the application to a voter registrar.          (c)  A volunteer deputy registrar shall submit to the voter   registrar an application for a ballot to be voted by mail as   provided by Subchapter C, Chapter 84.          Sec. 12.036.  DELIVERY OF APPLICATION TO EARLY VOTING CLERK.   (a) If a voter to register is not also the early voting clerk, the   voter registrar shall deliver in person, to the early voting clerk   each completed application for a ballot to be voted by mail   submitted to the voter registrar, as provided by this subchapter.   The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures necessary to   ensure the proper and timely delivery of completed applications   that are not delivered in person by the volunteer deputy who   receives them.          (b)  An application shall be delivered to the early voting   clerk not later than the deadline provided by Section 84.007(c),   but not before an action on application to register has been made as   provided by Section 13.072, if such an application to register   accompanies an application form for a ballot to be voted by mail.          SECTION 2.  Section 13.038, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 13.038.  POWERS GENERALLY. (a) A volunteer deputy   registrar may distribute voter registration application forms   throughout the county and receive registration applications   submitted to the deputy in person.          (b)  A volunteer deputy registrar may distribute application   forms for a ballot to be voted by mail throughout the county and   receive applications for a ballot to be voted by mail submitted to   the deputy in person as provided by Subchapter C, Chapter 84.          SECTION 3.  Section 84.007(b), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  An application must be submitted to the early voting   clerk by:                (1)  mail;                (2)  common or contract carrier;                (2-a)  the voter registrar, if other than the early   voting clerk;                (3)  subject to Subsection (b-1), telephonic facsimile   machine, if a machine is available in the clerk's officer; or                (4)  subject to Subsection (b-1), electronic   transmission of a scanned application containing an original   signature.          SECTION 4.  Chapter 84, Election Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter C to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER C. VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS          Sec. 84.051.  APPLICATION FORMS FURNISHED BY VOLUNTEER   DEPUTY REGISTRAR. (a) A volunteer deputy registrar may maintain a   supply of official application forms for a ballot to be voted by   mail and shall furnish the forms to voters throughout the county in   a manner consistent with law.          (b)  A voter may submit an application for a ballot to be   voted by mail by delivering the application to a volunteer deputy   registrar.          (c)  To the extent practicable, the procedure under this   section for distributing applications for a ballot to be vote by   mail and delivering applications shall be the same as the procedure   for delivering a registration application under Subchapter B,   Chapter 13.          Sec. 84.052.  DELIVERY OF APPLICATION TO VOTER REGISTRAR.   (a) A volunteer deputy registrar shall deliver in person, or by   personal delivery through another designated volunteer deputy, to   the voter registrar each completed application for a ballot to be   voted by mail submitted to the deputy, as provided by this section.   The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures necessary to   ensure the proper and timely delivery of completed applications   that are not delivered in person by the volunteer deputy who   receives them.          (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), an application   shall be delivered to the voter registrar not later than 5 p.m. of   the fifth day after the date the application is submitted to the   volunteer deputy registrar.          (c)  An application submitted after the 15th day before the   date of an election and on or before the last day for a person to   timely submit an application for a ballot to be voted by mail for   that election as provided by Section 84.007 shall be delivered to   the voter registrar not later than 5 p.m. of the next regular   business day after the date to timely submit an application for a   ballot to be voted by mail for that election as provided by Section   13.143.          Sec. 84.053.  FAILURE TO DELIVER APPLICATION. (a) A   volunteer deputy registrar commits an offense if the deputy fails   to comply with Section 84.052.          (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under   this section is a Class C misdemeanor.          (c)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor   if the deputy's failure to comply is intentional.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.