SB 12

S.B. No. 12
  AN ACT
  relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute criminal
  offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 402, Government Code, is amended by
  adding  Subchapter E to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER E.  PROSECUTION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES PRESCRIBED BY STATE
  ELECTION LAWS
         Sec. 402.151.  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter applies to a
  criminal offense under the Election Code.
         Sec. 402.152.  PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO ATTORNEY GENERAL.
  (a)  A law enforcement agency shall submit to the attorney general
  any report stating there is probable cause to believe an identified
  person has committed a criminal offense described by Section
  402.151.
         (b)  A local prosecuting attorney or law enforcement agency
  shall provide any information requested by the attorney general
  regarding investigations of criminal offenses described by Section
  402.151 to assist the attorney general in performing duties
  required under this subchapter.
         Sec. 402.153.  PROSECUTION.  Notwithstanding any other law,
  the attorney general has jurisdiction to prosecute and shall
  represent the state in the prosecution of a criminal offense
  described by Section 402.151.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 273.021(a) and (b), Election Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The attorney general has jurisdiction to [may]
  prosecute and shall represent the state in the prosecution of a
  criminal offense prescribed by the election laws of this state as
  provided by Subchapter E, Chapter 402, Government Code.
         (b)  The attorney general may appear before a grand jury in
  connection with a criminal [an] offense the attorney general is
  authorized to prosecute under Subsection (a).
         SECTION 3.  Section 273.022, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 273.022.  COOPERATION WITH LOCAL PROSECUTOR.  The
  attorney general may direct the county or district attorney serving
  the county in which the offense is to be prosecuted to prosecute a
  criminal [an] offense that the attorney general is authorized to
  prosecute under Section 273.021 or to assist the attorney general
  in the prosecution.
         SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.  An
  offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed
  by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For purposes of
  this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of
  this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.
  ______________________________
  ______________________________
     President of the Senate
  Speaker of the House     
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 12 passed the Senate on
  August 19, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 18, Nays 12.
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 12 passed the House on
  August 26, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 85, Nays 54, one
  present not voting.
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
  Approved:
  ______________________________ 
              Date
  ______________________________ 
            Governor