Proposing a constitutional amendment specifying the authority of the attorney general to prosecute a criminal offense prescribed by the election laws of this state.
This joint resolution proposes amending the Texas Constitution to clarify that the Attorney General has concurrent authority with county and district attorneys to prosecute criminal violations of election laws. If approved by voters (scheduled for May 2, 2026), it would establish shared jurisdiction for election-related criminal cases between the state Attorney General and local prosecutors. The bill failed to pass the legislature on August 26, 2025, and did not advance to voter approval. It does not create new criminal offenses but defines existing prosecutorial authority under election law.
Bill status
failed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
House Passage
Aug 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Aug 20, 2025
Last action Aug 26, 2025
Floor votes · House Aug 26, 2025
How they voted
87–54
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 148
Aug 26, 2025
D
Democratic59
89% Nay
R
Republican89
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Aug 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Aug 26, 2025
Introduced
Placed on Constitutional Amendments Calendar
lower
Aug 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Aug 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Aug 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
1 primary · 15 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Matt Shaheen
RRepublican
Co
Andy Hopper
RRepublican
Co
Ben Bumgarner
RRepublican
Co
Briscoe Cain
RRepublican
Co
Denise Villalobos
RRepublican
Co
Dennis Paul
RRepublican
Co
Greg Bonnen
RRepublican
Co
Janie Lopez
RRepublican
Co
Richard Hayes
RRepublican
Co
Shelby Slawson
RRepublican
Co
Stan Gerdes
RRepublican
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