According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), SB 396 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the state. The administrative adjustments required by the bill, such as changes in the process of issuing voter residence confirmation notices, are anticipated to be manageable within the current capabilities and budgets of state agencies. Therefore, no new appropriations or major expenditures are projected at the state level.

However, the bill may have fiscal implications for local governments, particularly county governments, which are responsible for implementing the voter registration process. Counties would incur costs related to identifying voters who fall under the new mandatory confirmation criteria, mailing the confirmation notices, and processing any responses received. The extent of these costs could vary significantly depending on the size and infrastructure of each county, with larger counties potentially facing more substantial fiscal impacts due to higher volumes of affected voters and correspondence.

In summary, while SB 396 presents minimal fiscal consequences for the state, it does introduce potential financial burdens for local election officials, particularly in jurisdictions with larger populations or limited administrative resources.

SB 396 enhances the accuracy and integrity of Texas's voter registration system by requiring more consistent and proactive efforts by voter registrars to confirm voters' residential addresses. Specifically, the bill mandates confirmation notices under three conditions: when a voter’s address is a non-residential location like a P.O. box, when a voter has not participated in any election in the past 25 months (as of November 30 following a general election), and when the registrar has any reason to suspect the voter's listed residence is inaccurate.

The bill aligns with practices upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, particularly echoing a similar Ohio statute affirmed in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute (2018). This precedent helps reinforce the constitutionality of the bill's approach to maintaining accurate voter rolls. By creating specific and objective triggers for issuing confirmation notices, SB 396 limits discretionary enforcement and improves procedural uniformity across Texas counties.

While the bill may introduce localized administrative costs—particularly for larger counties—it is not expected to impose a significant fiscal burden on the state. These local impacts can be viewed as justified investments in voter roll maintenance and election integrity.

The bill is explicitly supported by the Republican Party of Texas.

The legislation promotes transparency, accountability, and adherence to democratic norms without infringing on individual voting rights. Therefore, it upholds several key liberty principles, including personal responsibility, individual liberty, and limited government, and as such, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on SB 396.

• HB 2272 (Same As)
• HB 4253 (Same As)