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SB1494

Regular Session

Relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to change the date of their general elections.

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies

Governing Bodies of Political Subdivisions (City Councils, School Boards, etc.) • Texas Secretary of State (Elections Division)

SB1494
Low
Relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to change the date of their general elections.
Low Compliance Urgency
Requires routine attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
Governing Bodies of Political Su...Texas Secretary of State
Primary Author: Sen. Nathan Johnson
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: December 31, 2025 (The authority to adopt a resolution changing the election date expires on this day. If the subdivision fails to act within this four-month window, the opportunity under this statute is lost.)
  • Agency Rulemaking: No state-level rulemaking is mandated; however, local governing bodies must draft and pass specific resolutions. Expect a "regulatory gray zone" regarding the extension of current terms to bridge the gap between May and November.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Jurisdictions (Sept 2025): Direct Government Affairs teams to identify which target municipalities are considering this shift immediately upon the law's effective date.
  • Renegotiate Vendor Contracts (Oct 2025): If you are an election vendor, issue contract amendments immediately to lock in November delivery schedules.
  • Adjust PAC Budgets (Nov 2025): Re-forecast political spending. A shift to November changes the electorate demographic; ensure funds are available for a potentially more partisan/expensive cycle.
  • Verify Term Extensions: Confirm the specific "holdover" dates for any supported incumbents to ensure no gap in representation or authority.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Election Services Agreements: Vendors providing voting machines and ballot services must amend Master Service Agreements (MSAs) with any subdivision utilizing this window. Delivery dates tied to "May" cycles are legally obsolete upon passage of the local resolution.
  • Lobbying Engagements: Review engagement letters with external lobbyists. Scope of work often defines deliverables around election outcomes; these dates must be shifted by six months.

Hiring/Training

  • HR & Employee-Officeholders: Audit your workforce for employees serving on local boards (school boards, city councils). Their terms will be legally extended by approximately six months ("holdover" period) to align with the new November date. Adjust leave tracking and conflict-of-interest monitoring accordingly.
  • Vendor Staffing: Election service providers must shift temporary staffing and poll worker recruitment models from a spring peak to a fall peak.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Campaign Finance Calendars: Compliance officers must reset filing ticklers. The shift from May to November moves the "30-day" and "8-day" pre-election report deadlines. Failure to adjust these dates will result in automatic Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) penalties.
  • Resolution Tracking: Do not rely on verbal confirmation. Obtain the certified resolution from the City Secretary or Board Secretary to confirm the legal change of the election date before altering internal calendars.

Fees & Costs

  • Joint Election Costs: While moving to November often lowers costs for the subdivision (cost-sharing with the County), it may increase costs for candidates and PACs due to higher voter turnout and more expensive media markets in November. Adjust political contribution budgets upward.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • Staggered Term Conflicts: The law specifies a move to *odd-numbered years*. It is unclear how this interacts with entities currently utilizing staggered terms (elections every year). This may force a structural change to term lengths (e.g., shifting from 2-year to 4-year terms) to avoid "orphan" years where no election can be held.
  • County Capacity: The law authorizes the move, but it does not mandate County Election Administrators to accept new contracts if they lack equipment capacity. Watch for friction between local entities and County officials regarding ballot real estate.

Need Help Understanding Implementation?

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 20, 2025
Passed Senate
Apr 10, 2025
Passed House
May 28, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsCity GovernmentCity Government--employees/officersElectionsElections--generalPolitical Subdivisions
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Nathan JohnsonDemocrat · Primary Author
Joint Authors

House Sponsors

Rep. Rafael AnchiaDemocrat · Primary Sponsor
Joint Sponsors

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB1494

Q

What does Texas SB1494 do?

SB1494 creates a strict, four-month window (September 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025) for political subdivisions to pass resolutions moving their general elections to the November uniform election date in odd-numbered years. This legislation forces immediate contract renegotiations for election vendors and requires government affairs departments to realign campaign finance strategies and lobbying calendars to match a November election cycle. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: December 31, 2025 (The authority to adopt a resolution changing the election date expires on this day.

Q

Who authored SB1494?

SB1494 was authored by Texas Senator Nathan Johnson during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB1494 signed into law?

SB1494 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB1494?

SB1494 is enforced by Governing Bodies of Political Subdivisions (City Councils, School Boards, etc.) and Texas Secretary of State (Elections Division).

Q

How urgent is compliance with SB1494?

The compliance urgency for SB1494 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB1494?

The cost impact of SB1494 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB1494 address?

SB1494 addresses topics including city government, city government--employees/officers, elections, elections--general and political subdivisions.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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