SB 509 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to requiring notice to the attorney general in an action under the Election Code seeking a temporary restraining order.

SB 509 requires courts to notify the Texas Attorney General before a hearing in any election-related case seeking a temporary restraining order under the Election Code. This procedural change directly affects courts handling election disputes and ensures the Attorney General receives advance notice of such requests. The bill adds a new requirement that courts must provide this notice "as soon as practicable" before the hearing. It took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025. The law does not alter election rules or voting procedures, only the court notification process.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Nov 25, 2024 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 3 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MINOR
This bill was converted from an Engrossed version to an Enrolled version, adding certification signatures from legislative officers and the Governor. The substantive policy content regarding temporary restraining order procedures for the attorney general remained unchanged, with only minor formatting adjustments to the text layout.
TECHNICAL

Added Enrolled version certification signatures from the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, Secretary of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the House, and Governor, confirming final passage and approval.

Adjusted text formatting and spacing throughout the document to match Enrolled version standards, including line breaks and paragraph structure.

Removed draft markings and placeholder text from the Engrossed version, replacing them with clean, finalized bill language.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025 · House May 7, 2025

How they voted

236
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 30
Mar 24, 2025
D Democratic10
3 Yea 6 Nay 1
60% Nay
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
70
Key actions
23
Committee
15
Amendments
7
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Jun 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate adopts conference committee report
upper
May 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
House adopts conference committee report
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
House grants request for conference committee
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate requests conference committee-reported
lower
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate requests conference committee
upper
May 14, 2025
Introduced
House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
upper
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage as amended reported
upper
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to 3rd reading as amended
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Referred to Elections
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
6 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors