Election Integrity Bills Alert for Week of March 22

 

MARCH 25, THIS WEEK’S ELECTION INTEGRITY BILLS:

House Bill HB 6 and Senate Bill SB 7 are the major Republican Election Integrity Bills.

We need activist support for both HB 6 in the House and SB 7 in the Senate by testimony in-person if possible, written testimony, emails, and phone calls!

How to help:  Quick Tips for Activists on Impacting Bills in the Texas Legislature

Who to contact:  Texas 87th Legislature: Election Integrity Committee members and contact information

House Elections Committee Hearing:  Thursday, March 25, at 8 AM in room E2.028

HB 6 is the main Republican Election Integrity bill, although there are many other good and bad bills related to elections.  Highlights of HB 6:

• Requires tracking ballot numbers for auditing and security
• Strengthens poll watchers, improving transparency and integrity
• Improves security of electronic voting media (memory sticks and disks)
• Requires election law training for county workers so they administer the election legally
• Increases information collected on voter assistance to reduce coercion and fraud
• Increases penalties for improper voter assistance
• Increases penalties for fraudulent voters, such as those voting in two states
• Increases penalties for illegal ballot harvesting
• Adds penalties for election officials who illegally distribute mail-in ballot applications
• Adds penalties for election officials who illegally alter election procedures
• Directs the state’s attorney and courts to prioritize election matters for timely hearings

We need activists to express support FOR HB 6!  

Senate State Affairs Committee Hearing:  9:00 AM, Friday, March 26, 2021 at the Capitol Extension Auditorium, E1.004

SB 7 This is the main Republican Election Integrity bill in the Senate. We need activists to express support FOR SB 7!  

Democrats delayed the hearing that was scheduled for Monday, March 22, but it has been re-scheduled for Friday.

Some points to make in support of SB 7 are

1. Encourages in-person voting, which is more secure
2. Prohibits public officials from distributing un-requested vote-by-mail applications
3. Increases poll watcher access (improved transparency) 
4. Caps private funding of election officials and government agencies 

 

 

Texas 87th Legislature: Election Integrity Committee members and contact information

 

Texas Legislature Online is your source to find out how to contact members, who is on committees, when and where the committees are meeting, and bill information and status tracking including automatic alerts.  The link to the site is here:  Texas Legislature Online

In the Texas House most election bills will be heard by the Elections Committee.  The members are (name, phone, room number):

• Rep Briscoe Cain (512) 463-0733 R E2.706
• Rep Jessica Gonzalez(512) 463-0408 E2.820
• Rep John H Bucy III (512) 463-0696 E2.208
• Rep Travis Clardy (512) 463-0592 E2.818
• Rep Art Fierro (512) 463-0596 E2.412
• Rep Jacey Jetton (512) 463-0710 E2.716
• Rep Mike Schofield (512) 463-0528 E2.410
• Rep Valoree Swanson (512) 463-0572 E2.710

Legislative Directors for Elections Committee members:

• Justin W. Williamson, Chief of Staff for Rep. Briscoe Cain (Dist. 128):  justin.williamson@house.texas.gov
• Christine DiCosimo, District Director for Rep. Briscoe Cain (Dist. 128):  christine.dicosimo@house.texas.gov
• Andrew Herrell, Legislative Director for Rep. Mayes Middleton (Dist. 23):  andrew.herrell@house.texas.gov
• David Hinds, Legislative Director for Rep. Valoree Swanson (Dist. 150):  david.hinds@house.texas.gov   
• Cody Davis, Legislative Director for Rep. Jacey Jetton (Dist. 26):  cody.davis@house.texas.gov
• Dylan Castro. Legislative Director for Rep. Travis Clardy (Dist. 11):  dylan.castro@house.texas.gov
• Emily Knaub, Legislative Director for Rep. Mike Schofield (Dist. 132):  emily.knaub@house.texas.gov
• Annie Callegari, District Director for Rep. Kike Schofield (Dist. 132):  annie.callegari@house.texas.gov

In the Texas Senate most election bills will be heard by the State Affairs Committee.  The members are (name, email, phone, room number):

• Sen. Bryan Hughes bryan.hughes@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0101 3E.8
• Sen. Brian Birdwell brian.birdwell@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0122 E1.804
• Sen. Donna Campbell donna.campbell@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0125 3E.8
• Sen. Bob Hall bob.hall@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0102 E1.610
• Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. eddie.lucio@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0127 3S.5
• Sen. Jane Nelson jane.nelson@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0112 1E.5
• Sen. Beverly Powell beverly.powell@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0110 E1.708
• Sen. Charles Schwertner charles.schwertner@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0105 3E.10
• Sen. Judith Zaffirini judith.zaffirini@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0121 1E.14

Quick Tips for Activists on Impacting Bills in the Texas Legislature

Activists who wish to impact bills, either supporting or opposing, must be alert and ready to act.  Here are the basics to make your voice heard in the Texas Legislature.

Bills are being discussed in committees in the Texas House and Senate right now.   The phases of a bill’s life are

•     Getting a hearing in committee
•     Getting voted on in committee
•     Getting scheduled for a vote on the floor
•     Getting a floor vote

While bills are in committee, we can help good bills by

• Contacting committee members by phone and email to support the bill and asking for a hearing and a vote.
• Contacting your own representative and ask them to support the bill by signing on as a co-author.
• Testify in-person or in writing when the bill is being discussed by the committee.

When giving support (or opposition), politely give a few points about the bill and add personal experiences or impacts to your testimony.  Oral testimony is only 2 minutes, and written testimony is also limited so keep it concise and on point.

Texas Legislature Online is your source to find out how to contact members, who is on committees, when and where the committees are meeting, read the bills and track their status including automatic alerts.  The link to the site is here:  Texas Legislature Online