Relating to the authority of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.
This bill requires the Texas Attorney General to prosecute certain election-related crimes if local prosecutors do not act within six months. Specifically, it mandates that law enforcement agencies must send reports of suspected election law violations to both local prosecutors and the Attorney General. If a local prosecutor fails to file charges within six months, the Attorney General gains automatic authority to handle the case. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and affects how election crime cases are processed across Texas.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 30, 2025
Last action May 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Engrossed
·
4 edits
·
Apr 30, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends Texas law to clarify and strengthen the Attorney General's authority to prosecute election-related criminal offenses. It establishes a new subchapter in the Government Code outlining when the Attorney General can intervene if local prosecutors do not act within six months of receiving a probable cause report. The changes also update related sections in the Election Code to ensure consistent authority and cooperation between state and local prosecutors.
Scope change
The bill expands the Attorney General's jurisdiction to prosecute election crimes under specific conditions, creating a formal mechanism for state intervention when local authorities fail to act within a six-month window.
ENFORCEMENT
New Subchapter D in Government Code Chapter 402 establishes the Attorney General's authority to prosecute election crimes when local prosecutors do not initiate proceedings within six months of receiving a probable cause report.
Updated Election Code Section 273.021 to clarify that the Attorney General has jurisdiction to prosecute and represent the state in election-related criminal cases.
Revised Election Code Section 273.022 to clarify the Attorney General's ability to direct local prosecutors to handle cases or assist in prosecution.
REQUIREMENT
Added requirement that law enforcement agencies must submit copies of probable cause reports to both local prosecutors and the Attorney General simultaneously.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
36
Key actions
9
Committee
8
Amendments
3
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 2, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
lower
May 2, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
May 1, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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