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Bill

HB 4274

Relating to penalties for intimidation and harassment of election officials and election interference; creating criminal offenses.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Vikki Goodwin

HB 4274 creates criminal penalties for intimidating, harassing, or interfering with Texas election officials and workers.

Referred to Elections
#crimes--againstpersons--general(i0170) #crimes--againstproperty(i0175) #crimes--miscellaneous(i0200) #elections--electionofficers(i0305) #harassment(s0058) #protectionofpersonalinformation(i0003)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 4274

Legislative bill overview

HB 4274 creates new criminal offenses and enhanced penalties for intimidating, harassing, or interfering with election officials and election workers in Texas. The bill strengthens protections for individuals administering elections by establishing specific legal consequences for conduct targeting these officials during their duties.

Why is this important

Election officials have increasingly reported threats and harassment that discourage qualified individuals from serving in these roles, potentially threatening electoral administration. Strengthening legal protections addresses public safety concerns and helps maintain the functionality of election systems by protecting the workforce conducting them.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Specificity of what constitutes "intimidation," "harassment," and "interference" will determine whether the law clearly targets serious threats or could capture protected speech and legitimate election observation/criticism
  • First Amendment balance: Legislation must distinguish between criminal intimidation and lawful political expression, protest, or election transparency advocacy without chilling legitimate democratic participation
  • Enforcement concerns: Questions about how law enforcement will apply subjective standards consistently and whether this could disproportionately affect certain groups or political perspectives
  • Penalty levels: Debate over whether proposed criminal penalties are proportionate or constitute overreach compared to existing criminal statutes covering threats and harassment

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

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