HB 353 — The uniform election date

90R2761 TSS-D By: Isaac H.B. No. 353 relating to the uniform election date.

SECTION 1. Section 2.025(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) or as otherwise provided by this code, a runoff election shall be held on a Tuesday [ Saturday ] designated by the secretary of state.

SECTION 2. Section 31.093(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) If [ Subject to Section 41.001(d), if ] requested to do so by a political subdivision, the county elections administrator shall enter into a contract to furnish the election services requested, in accordance with a cost schedule agreed on by the contracting parties.

SECTION 3. The heading to Section 41.001, Election Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 41.001. UNIFORM ELECTION DATE [ DATES ].

SECTION 4. Sections 41.001(a) and (c), Election Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, each general or special election in this state shall be held on [ one of the following dates: [ (1) the first Saturday in May in an odd-numbered year; [ (2) the first Saturday in May in an even-numbered year, for an election held by a political subdivision other than a county, or ordered by the governor; or [ (3) ] the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. (c) Except for an election under Subsection (a) or Section 41.0011 [ or a runoff election following an election held under Subsection (a)(2) ], an election may not be held within 30 days before or after the date of the general election for state and county officers, general primary election, or runoff primary election.

SECTION 5. Section 41.004(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) If a law outside this code other than the constitution requires a special election subject to Section 41.001(a) to be held within a particular period after the occurrence of a certain event, the election shall be held on the [ an ] authorized uniform election date occurring within the period unless no uniform election date within the period affords enough time to hold the election in the manner required by law. In that case, Section 41.001(a) does not apply [ the election shall be held on the first authorized uniform election date occurring after the expiration of the period ].

SECTION 6. Section 41.0052(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The governing body of a political subdivision[ , other than a county or municipal utility district, ] that holds its general election for officers on a date other than the November uniform election date shall [ may ], not later than December 31, 2027 [ 2025 ], change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to the November uniform election date [ in odd-numbered years ].

SECTION 7. The following provisions of the Election Code are repealed: (1) Section 41.001(d); (2) Sections 41.0052(a-1), (a-3), and (g); (3) Section 41.0052(f), as added by Chapter 46 (S.B. 914), Acts of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025; (4) Section 41.0052(f), as added by Chapter 753 (H.B. 3546), Acts of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025; and (5) Section 85.001(e).

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.