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Bill

HJR 1

Proposing a constitutional amendment specifying the authority of the attorney general to prosecute a criminal offense prescribed by the election laws of this state.

89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Introduced by Trent Ashby and 15 co-sponsors

Texas constitutional amendment expanding Attorney General's explicit authority to prosecute state election law violations, centralizing enforcement previously handled by local prosecutors.

Reason for vote recorded in Journal
#attorneygeneral(v2811) #elections--general(i0310) #resolutions--constitutionalamendments(i0661)
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Bill Summary · HJR 1

Legislative bill overview

HJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment that would explicitly grant Texas's Attorney General authority to prosecute criminal violations of the state's election laws. Currently, this prosecutorial power may be ambiguous or limited under existing law. The amendment would clarify and expand the AG's role in enforcing election statutes.

Why is this important

Election law enforcement directly affects the integrity of voting processes and voter confidence in elections. Clarifying who can prosecute election crimes determines how robustly these laws are enforced and whether violations are pursued uniformly across the state. This amendment would centralize election crime prosecution under a statewide elected official rather than leaving it to local district attorneys.

Potential points of contention

  • Centralization of power: Consolidating election prosecution authority in the statewide AG's office rather than local DAs could be seen as reducing local control or as appropriately ensuring consistent statewide enforcement
  • Definition concerns: The amendment doesn't specify which election-related offenses qualify or establish standards for when the AG must act, potentially creating discretionary enforcement authority
  • Political implications: Since the AG is an elected statewide position, critics may worry about politicization of election prosecutions, while supporters may argue it provides clearer accountability than fragmented local authority

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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