SB 16 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to requiring a person to submit proof of citizenship to register to vote, including the eligibility of certain voters to vote a limited federal ballot if the voter cannot supply the required proof and the procedures for the counting of those ballots; creating criminal offenses.

This bill requires individuals to submit proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote. Applicants must provide a copy of specific documents, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, with their voter registration application. If initial proof is not provided, voter registrars must attempt to verify citizenship using various databases. If citizenship cannot be verified or proof is not ultimately provided, the applicant will only be eligible to vote a limited federal ballot. The bill also creates a state jail felony offense for registrars who knowingly fail to reject applications that do not meet these new requirements.

Issues: ✗ Immigration

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 11, 2025 Last action May 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 7 edits · Apr 1, 2025

MODERATE

This bill significantly restricts voter registration in Texas by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for all new applicants and existing registrants. It creates a new 'limited federal ballot' for those unable to verify citizenship, which only allows voting in federal offices. The bill also establishes a verification process where registrars and the Attorney General can investigate citizenship status, potentially leading to criminal charges for illegal registration.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of citizenship verification from new applicants to all registered voters, including existing registrants who must be re-verified by December 2025.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement for all voters to submit proof of U.S. citizenship (passport, birth certificate, etc.) when registering to vote.

Registrars must verify citizenship using multiple databases including Social Security Administration and immigration records.

ELIGIBILITY

Creation of a 'limited federal ballot' that only allows voting for U.S. Senator and Representative offices for voters unable to verify citizenship.

ENFORCEMENT

New criminal offenses for knowingly registering non-citizens to vote, with penalties including state jail felony charges.

Attorney General empowered to investigate citizenship status of all registered voters who haven't provided proof of citizenship.

TIMELINE

Existing voters registered before September 2025 must be verified by December 1, 2025, or face limited ballot status.

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'restricted ballot' and created new chapter for limited federal ballot procedures.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 1, 2025

How they voted

20–10

Passed

Total votes 30

Apr 1, 2025

D Democratic10

10 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

May 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

May 25, 2025

Committee

Recommitted to committee

lower

May 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Corrected committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Committee

Referred to Elections

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed to engrossment as amended

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Introduced

Amendment(s) offered

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

19 primary · 51 co-sponsors