According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), the fiscal implications of HB 3697 are minimal and do not pose a significant financial burden to either the state or local governments. The bill mandates an increase in font size to at least 12-point type and the use of black text on a white background for both the vote-by-mail application and related balloting materials. While this change is largely administrative, it has some minor logistical consequences.

According to the Secretary of State, the increase in font size would result in an overall increase in the physical size and weight of the mailed ballot packets. However, these impacts are expected to be marginal, and any resulting postal cost increases or adjustments in printing are assumed to be absorbable within existing agency budgets and resources.

At the local level, election officials may experience slightly increased printing and mailing expenses due to the changes in formatting, but these are not expected to rise to a level that would constitute a significant fiscal impact. The Legislative Budget Board concludes that both state and local governments can manage the bill’s requirements without needing additional appropriations or funding increases.

In sum, HB 3697 introduces modest adjustments to election materials for accessibility and clarity, with no major fiscal implications anticipated for any level of government.

HB 3697 seeks to improve the accessibility, clarity, and uniformity of vote-by-mail applications and balloting materials by increasing the required font size from 6-point to 12-point and mandating that all relevant materials be printed in black text on a white background. These changes aim to address concerns raised by voters—particularly older adults and individuals with visual impairments—about the legibility of election documents. Additionally, the bill establishes consistent formatting standards across counties, reducing confusion for voters who move or travel within Texas.

The proposed reforms enhance Individual Liberty by making the electoral process more accessible and user-friendly, ensuring that all eligible voters—regardless of physical limitations—can more easily read and complete their ballot materials. This bolsters participation and strengthens representative government. While the bill does introduce a formatting mandate, it does not involve any significant new spending or burdensome regulation, and its Limited Government implications are minimal. The Legislative Budget Board confirms that the bill has no significant fiscal impact on state or local governments, meaning it respects public resource constraints.

Additionally, the bill does not expand rulemaking authority or create criminal penalties, aligning with a restrained approach to governance. By enhancing accessibility and voter confidence without infringing on private rights or adding government complexity, HB 3697 is a constructive measure that promotes transparency and voter empowerment. It supports the principle of Personal Responsibility by making election materials clearer and easier to use, reducing voter errors.

Given its benefits to accessibility and uniformity in election procedures—achieved without expanding state power or incurring significant costs—Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on HB 3697.

• Individual Liberty: The bill strengthens individual liberty by making election materials—specifically, vote-by-mail applications and related instructions—more accessible to all Texans, particularly seniors and individuals with visual impairments. By mandating 12-point font and high-contrast text (black on white), the bill reduces barriers to voting. This ensures that the right to vote, a cornerstone of individual liberty, is more meaningfully accessible across the population.
• Personal Responsibility: The reforms enable voters to more easily read and understand voting materials, reducing errors in ballot completion. This supports the principle of personal responsibility by allowing voters to fulfill their civic duties without undue difficulty or confusion. Easier-to-read materials empower individuals to complete their ballots accurately and independently, thereby enhancing their responsibility in the democratic process.
• Free Enterprise: The bill does not impose any significant burden or regulation on private businesses. Although local printing vendors that supply election materials may need to adjust to the new formatting standards (e.g., larger paper or different layout), these are modest changes within standard industry capabilities. Thus, the bill has a neutral impact on free enterprise.
• Private Property Rights: HB 3697 does not address or affect private property rights in any way. It focuses solely on public election administration and ballot formatting. Therefore, there is no direct impact on this principle.
• Limited Government: While the bill introduces a new mandate on the formatting of ballot materials, it does not significantly expand government scope or spending. The changes are minor in administrative scope and cost-neutral according to the Legislative Budget Board. However, from a strict limited government perspective, any additional regulation—even if reasonable and minor—could be seen as an incremental increase in state control over election procedures. That said, the public interest served by enhancing access to voting materials arguably offsets this concern, placing the impact between neutral and mildly negative.