Thread by @hollyshansen

This morning the #txlege Senate Committee on State Affairs will take up a slew of #election related bills authored by @loiskolkhorst @CreightonForTX @TeamBettencourt @SenBryanHughes.

capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/sc…

Kolkhorst is laying out SB 260, regarding voter registration rolls. Says there are some counties in Texas that have more registered voters than eligible citizens, mostly smaller counties.

From the bill analysis: "The language of S.B. 260 follows closely to that of Ohio which was upheld by the United States Supreme Court in Husted vs Randolph Institute argued before the court in 2018."

Here is the Judicial Watch study that found 33 counties in Texas with more registered voters than eligible adult citizens. Loving County with a population of 62 eligible, had 92 registered voters. judicialwatch.org/wp-content/upl…

My apologies, but I missed @kevinsparkstx who is now laying out SB 946 "Relating to the election date for the authorization of the issuance of bonds or a tax increase."
Would require such elections to be held on uniform election dates in November.

Testifying in support in @TPPF's @JamesQuinteroTX who quotes @TheTexanNews reporting on bond debt in #Texas.

@TPPF @JamesQuinteroTX @TheTexanNews Here's some of @bradj_TX 's excellent reporting on debt issues: thetexan.news/texas-local-go…

Committee on break for this morning's Senate floor session.

Committee is back in session, representative from Austin ISD testifying in opposition.

Taking up Bettencourt's SB 220, but with a substitute. #Houston City Council member Mike Knox is testifying in support of the bill.
Knox calls Harris County's election problems "designed incompetence."

Testifying on the bill is Texas DPS Director Steven McCraw.

The Brennan Center for Justice testifies in opposition to SB 220.

Bettencourt corrects characterization of the bill- says it's not limited to large counties and is identical to a bill filed last #txlege session. (Brennan Center said it was modeled after a Florida bill passed recently.)

A witness in opposition to the bill repeats the claim that the bill is an imitation of Florida's new law. Says the bill is designed to intimidate voters.

Among those testifying in opposition are some from Emgage Texas, a Muslim political advocacy group.

Committee approves SB 1907 in 8-2 vote.
"Relating to preparing and delivering precinct election returns; increasing a criminal penalty."

A slew of bills approved by committee, including SB 260 heard this morning.

Harris County Republican Party Chair Cindy Siegel testifies in support of SB 823- pushes back on earlier testimony suggesting Harris County's election woes are due to funding. Says cost has gone from $12M to $30M per yr.

One witness is asking Bettencourt to add penalties for obstructing poll watchers and for printing early vote results before closure of polls on election day. (The latter is already prohibited but happening.)

Now up, SB 1933 "Relating to the randomized audits of elections in certain counties."

Now up: SB 1750, returning elections in large counties to elected officials.
Background: thetexan.news/texas-lawmaker…

Committee is taking up SB 2071 "Relating to automatic recounts of certain elections."

After testimony from @TPPF 's @ChuckDeVore Bettencourt notes 22 other states have automatic or mandatory recounts. DeVore notes this is different from an election contest.

Other than the invited testimony, it's pretty much the same witnesses testifying for or against each election bill today.

Now up SB 1846: Prohibits voting systems with software development by "a company or other entity headquartered in China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, or Russia..."

Dr. Pressley suggests change to bill- restricting suppliers to those in the U.S.

SB 1993 by Middleton says if a polling site runs out of paper ballots and they are not replenished in 1 hour, the Secretary of State "shall" call a new election.

In opposition to the bill, a witness says it could have a disparate impact on communities of color.

Witnesses are testifying on SB 1600, regarding proof of citizenship to register to vote.