HB 699: Dawson County; board of elections and registration; provide staggered terms

Dawson County has a board of elections and registration created by a 1998 state law. This bill changes how the board's members' terms are scheduled. Instead of all initial members' terms running the same course, the bill designates that some initial members appointed under one part of the law will serve terms ending December 31, 2024, while others will serve terms ending December 31, 2026. Both groups continue serving until successors are appointed and qualified. After these initial staggered terms expire, the bill sets a standard rule: successors to these board members will serve four-year terms and continue until their own successors are appointed and qualified. The bill repeals any conflicting laws, meaning older provisions about term lengths for this board that contradict the new schedule no longer apply.

• Revises the 1998 Dawson County elections board law to stagger the expiration dates of initial board members' terms.
• Sets one group of initial board members to serve terms ending December 31, 2024, until successors are appointed and qualified.
• Sets a second group of initial board members to serve terms ending December 31, 2026, until successors are appointed and qualified.
• Establishes that all future successors to these board members serve four-year terms and continue until their successors are appointed and qualified.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with this new term structure.

Members of the Dawson County board of elections and registration, the Dawson County governing authority responsible for appointing them, and Dawson County voters who rely on the board to administer elections and voter registration.

Staggering board members' terms means the whole board will not turn over at once, which can help preserve institutional knowledge and continuity in how Dawson County runs elections and manages voter registration from year to year.

• Section 1 revises paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 2 of the 1998 Act creating the Dawson County board of elections and registration.
• Subparagraph (A) designates certain initial members to serve terms ending December 31, 2024, until successors qualify.
• Subparagraph (B) designates certain initial members to serve terms ending December 31, 2026, until successors qualify.
• Subparagraph (C) sets all future successor terms at four years, continuing until a successor is appointed and qualified.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 161
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2025-03-28Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2025-03-28Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
7. 2025-03-18Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
8. 2025-03-13House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)

• Will Wade (R, HD-009)Patrocinador principal
• Johnny Chastain (R, HD-007)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes13 de marzo de 2025

   169 a favor, 0 en contra (5 sin votar, 6 ausentes)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #273

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado28 de marzo de 2025

   53 a favor, 0 en contra (1 sin votar, 2 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #313

• Dawson County
• board of elections
• election administration
• local government terms