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SB510

Regular Session

Relating to the failure of a voter registrar to comply with voter registration laws.

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

Secretary of State

SB510
Low
Relating to the failure of a voter registrar to comply with voter registration laws.
Low Compliance Urgency
Requires routine attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
Secretary of State
Primary Author: Sen. Paul Bettencourt
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: September 1, 2025 (Vendors must have contract protections in place by this date).
  • Agency Rulemaking: The Secretary of State must prescribe rules administering the withholding process (Sec. 12.007). Watch the *Texas Register* in Summer 2025 for definitions regarding the "opportunity to cure" violations.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Client List: Identify counties with a history of election administration errors; flag them as "High Risk" for accounts receivable.
  • Update Legal Templates: Revise standard government contract templates to protect against punitive funding withholding before the Sept 1, 2025 effective date.
  • Monitor Rulemaking: Assign a compliance officer to track SOS proposed rules in Summer 2025 to define the "cure period."
  • Notify Finance: Ensure your CFO is aware that "Chapter 19" revenue streams now carry a regulatory performance risk attached to the client's behavior.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Critical Action: Review all Master Service Agreements (MSAs) with County Election Departments.

  • Non-Appropriation Clauses: Most government contracts allow termination if state funds are not appropriated. You must amend these to explicitly exclude situations where funds are withheld due to the Client’s (the County's) statutory non-compliance or negligence.
  • Indemnification: Ensure the County cannot pass the financial penalty (loss of state funds) to you via liquidated damages unless the breach was directly caused by your product's failure.

Hiring/Training

  • Client Success Teams: Train support staff to prioritize tickets from County Voter Registrars related to statutory deadlines (e.g., challenge notices). Your response time must not be the bottleneck that triggers a state sanction against your client.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Defensive Documentation: Vendors providing mailing services or database management must maintain granular logs (timestamps, proof of delivery). If a County is sanctioned for "failure to timely perform," they will look to their vendors to shift blame. You must possess irrefutable proof that your deliverables were timely.

Fees & Costs

  • Cash Flow Impact: There are no new direct fees. However, anticipate payment delays of 30-60 days if a client is sanctioned, as the law allows funds to be released once the registrar cures the violation.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • "Reasonable Opportunity to Correct": The statute requires the SOS to provide notice and a chance to fix the error before cutting funding, but does not define the duration (e.g., 48 hours vs. 30 days). A short window increases the risk of sudden payment stoppages for vendors.
  • "Timely Perform": The SOS has discretion to define what constitutes a failure sufficient to trigger withholding. Rulemaking will determine if minor clerical errors trigger these penalties or if this is reserved for systemic gross negligence.

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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
Nov 25, 2024
Passed Senate
May 13, 2025
Passed House
May 28, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsElectionsElections--administrationElections--election OfficersElections--registration & SuffrageSecretary of StateState FinancesState Finances--management & Control
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Paul BettencourtRepublican · Primary Author
Joint Authors
Coauthors (2)

House Sponsor

Rep. Matthew ShaheenRepublican · Primary Sponsor

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 SB510

Q

What does Texas SB510 do?

SB510 empowers the Secretary of State (SOS) to withhold Chapter 19 and Section 31. 009 funding from county voter registrars who fail to timely perform voter roll maintenance duties. While the statute regulates public officials, government contractors and election service vendors face significant accounts receivable risk, as these withheld funds are the primary revenue source for election technology, printing, and administration contracts.

Q

Who authored SB510?

SB510 was authored by Texas Senator Paul Bettencourt during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB510 signed into law?

SB510 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB510?

SB510 is enforced by Secretary of State.

Q

How urgent is compliance with SB510?

The compliance urgency for SB510 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB510?

The cost impact of SB510 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB510 address?

SB510 addresses topics including elections, elections--administration, elections--election officers, elections--registration & suffrage and secretary of state.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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