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HB 1489

Relating to prohibiting an officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state from distributing certain voter registration application forms; creating a criminal offense.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Mark Dorazio and 4 co-sponsors

Texas bill criminalizes state and local government distribution of voter registration forms, restricting citizen access to registration in government offices.

Placed on General State Calendar
#citygovernment--general(i0060) #countygovernment--general(i0096) #crimes--miscellaneous(i0200) #elections--earlyvoting(i0260) #elections--registration&suffrage(i0265) #politicalsubdivisions(i0588) #stateemployees(i0626) #stateofficers(i0761)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1489

Legislative bill overview

HB 1489 prohibits state and local government officers or employees from distributing voter registration application forms to the public. The bill creates a criminal offense for violations, establishing penalties for officials who engage in this activity.

Why is this important

Voter registration access directly affects political participation rates, particularly among underrepresented populations. This bill would restrict how government agencies facilitate registration, which could reduce voter turnout by limiting convenient access points where citizens typically encounter registration opportunities (DMVs, social services offices, libraries, etc.).

Potential points of contention

  • Access vs. Administration: Supporters argue government should remain neutral and not actively promote registration; opponents contend restrictions limit citizen participation and burden voters with finding registration independently
  • Burden on voters: Critics point out this shifts responsibility to individual citizens to locate and obtain forms, potentially disproportionately affecting elderly, disabled, and less-connected populations
  • Election administration: Questions remain about whether this applies to all registration forms or specific types, and how it affects voter registration drives conducted by government employees as part of standard election administration duties
  • Constitutional concerns: Potential legal challenges regarding whether restrictions on voter registration distribution violate voting rights protections under federal law

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

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