Bill: SB 44, 85(R) - 2017

Committee

Senate State Affairs

Companion Bill

HB 1242

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
No Neutral Neutral Neutral Negative Neutral

Author(s)

Judith Zaffirini

Bill Caption

Relating to petition requirement for an application for a place on the general primary election ballot for certain judicial offices. 

Bill Analysis

As the bill author's statement of intent explains:

"Until 2015, candidates for various judicial offices were required to submit a petition containing 250 signatures in addition to the filing fee or, if a candidate submitted a petition in lieu of the filing fee, 250 additional signatures. A bill last session removed that requirement."

SB 44 would reinstate those signature requirements for counties with a population of more than 1.5 million people. which includes Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, and Bexar counties. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

By increasing ballot access requirements, SB 44 would infringe on limited government. The bill would also infringe on individual liberty by making it more difficult to run for those offices and reducing voter choice. For these reasons we oppose SB 44.
Source URL (retrieved on 04/16/2024 04:04 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/85r/sb44?print_view=true