According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), SB 510 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the state. The analysis assumes that any administrative responsibilities or enforcement actions required of the Secretary of State under the bill, such as monitoring registrar compliance and managing the withholding or redistribution of funds, can be executed using the agency’s existing resources without the need for additional appropriations.

Similarly, the bill is not anticipated to create a significant fiscal burden for local governments. While it introduces a new compliance mechanism through the temporary withholding of funds from local voter registrars, it does not impose any new duties beyond existing statutory obligations. Local registrars are already required to perform the duties specified in the bill; SB 510 simply enforces timeliness through financial accountability. Thus, any adjustments needed to comply are expected to be minimal or manageable within current operational budgets.

In summary, SB 510 enhances administrative oversight without introducing new costs for the state or local jurisdictions. Its fiscal approach reinforces compliance without expanding bureaucracy or requiring new spending.

SB 510 represents a measured and reasonable effort to ensure the timely performance of legally required duties by voter registrars across Texas. The bill builds upon the framework established by SB 1113 in the 87th Legislature, which allowed the Secretary of State to withhold funds when registrars failed to promptly cancel ineligible voter registrations. SB 510 expands this enforcement mechanism to include other vital registrar duties, such as voter registration approvals and changes, scheduling of hearings, resolution of challenges, and issuing of required notices, where nonperformance can compromise the integrity and responsiveness of the state’s voter registration system.

This legislation is designed to uphold the administrative side of voter roll maintenance without infringing upon voter rights. By relying on financial accountability rather than creating criminal penalties or expanding bureaucracy, it reinforces the principle that public officials should fulfill their statutory obligations or face proportional consequences. Importantly, the bill includes a built-in remedy: if the registrar cures the deficiency within 30 days, withheld funds must be released, preserving fairness and avoiding punitive overreach.

From a liberty-principled perspective, SB 510 promotes personal responsibility and limited government by holding local election officials accountable using existing resources, not through new enforcement agencies. It supports individual liberty to the extent that timely voter roll maintenance helps protect the franchise and ensure fair electoral administration. There are no direct impacts on private property rights or free enterprise, but the bill fits cleanly within the framework of efficient, accountable governance. Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on SB 510 because it enhances transparency, upholds statutory compliance, and maintains electoral integrity without imposing undue burdens on local governments or the electorate.

• Individual Liberty: The bill indirectly supports individual liberty by reinforcing the legal mechanisms that ensure the voter registration system functions reliably and on time. By holding voter registrars accountable for delays or failures to perform core duties, such as approving, canceling, or changing voter registrations, it helps protect citizens’ right to vote by promoting a responsive and accurate voter roll system. This aligns with the principle that the government must safeguard fundamental individual rights, including electoral participation.
• Personal Responsibility: The bill directly promotes the principle of personal responsibility in public service. Voter registrars are public officials tasked with statutory obligations, and the bill introduces a financial consequence (withholding state funds) if those responsibilities are neglected. It reinforces the idea that government actors must be held accountable for their performance and cannot avoid consequences for failing in their duties.
• Free Enterprise: The bill advances limited government by enforcing compliance using an existing financial oversight tool (Chapter 19 and Section 31.009 funding mechanisms) rather than expanding bureaucracy or regulatory authority. The bill imposes no new duties; it simply ensures existing laws are followed. It also includes a safeguard clause that restores withheld funds if the registrar complies within 30 days, ensuring enforcement is proportional and not overly punitive.
• Private Property Rights: The bill does not engage with private markets, economic regulation, or business activities. Therefore, it has no impact—positive or negative—on the principle of free enterprise.
• Limited Government: Similarly, the bill has no provisions that relate to land use, eminent domain, or any other form of property regulation. It does not impact private property rights.

• HB 1478 (Same As)