Proposing a constitutional amendment adding individuals who are not United States citizens to the classes of persons not allowed to vote in this state.
HJR 161 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to explicitly prohibit non-citizen residents from voting in Texas elections. The bill would add "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a new category barred from voting, alongside existing restrictions for minors, those declared mentally incompetent, and convicted felons. If approved by voters in November 2025, this constitutional change would formally enshrine the current legal standard - non-citizens already cannot vote in Texas - into the state constitution. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2025 general election, with ballot language specifying the change. This is a procedural constitutional amendment, not a new voting law.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 26, 2025
Last action May 9, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
15
Key actions
5
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 8, 2025
Introduced
Placed on Constitutional Amendments Calendar
lower
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to Elections
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
5 primary · 35 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Candy Noble
RRepublican
P
Matt Shaheen
RRepublican
P
Philip Cortez
DDemocratic
P
SM
Sergio Muñoz
DDemocratic
P
Todd Hunter
RRepublican
Co
Alan Schoolcraft
RRepublican
Co
Andy Hopper
RRepublican
Co
Ben Bumgarner
RRepublican
Co
Brad Buckley
RRepublican
Co
Brent Money
RRepublican
Co
Carl Tepper
RRepublican
Co
Caroline Harris Davila
RRepublican
Co
Cody Vasut
RRepublican
Co
Daniel Alders
RRepublican
Co
David Lowe
RRepublican
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