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Bill

SB 2362

Relating to unlawful solicitation and distribution of a voter registration application; creating a criminal offense.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Brandon Creighton

Texas bill criminalizes unlawful voter registration application solicitation and distribution, establishing new criminal penalties for registration outreach activities.

Referred to State Affairs
#crimes--miscellaneous(i0200) #elections--electionofficers(i0305) #elections--registration&suffrage(i0265)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2362

Legislative bill overview

SB 2362 creates a new criminal offense in Texas for unlawfully soliciting or distributing voter registration applications. The bill establishes penalties for individuals or organizations that encourage voter registration through methods or contexts deemed improper under the legislation's specific criteria.

Why is this important

Voter registration access and the mechanisms through which citizens register to vote directly affect electoral participation rates and franchise accessibility. This bill would reshape what constitutes legal voter registration outreach, potentially affecting nonprofit organizations, campaigns, and community groups engaged in registration drives.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's specific language defining "unlawful solicitation" is not provided in available summaries, making it unclear what registration activities would be criminalized versus permitted
  • First Amendment concerns: Criminal penalties for voter registration distribution could face constitutional challenges regarding political speech and advocacy rights
  • Disparate impact: Voter registration restrictions historically affect participation rates among minority communities and younger voters differently, raising equity concerns
  • Implementation questions: Determining which entities can legally distribute applications and establishing enforcement mechanisms without chilling legitimate registration activity remains unclear

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

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