Texas Senate Passes Bill Empowering AG To Prosecute Election Crimes

The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 11, which restores and expands the attorney general's authority to independently prosecute election crimes, a power that was removed by a 2021 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruling. This bill allows the attorney general to take over election fraud cases if local prosecutors decline to act within six months, addressing concerns about some district and county attorneys allegedly refusing to enforce election laws. Senate Bill 11, championed by State Sen. Bryan Hughes and supported by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott, aims to ensure election integrity by granting the attorney general concurrent jurisdiction alongside local prosecutors. The legislation requires local law enforcement to submit election crime reports to both local prosecutors and the attorney general’s office. While the bill passed with a 17-12 Senate vote, debates continue around whether a constitutional amendment is necessary to authorize this change, with some lawmakers advocating for one to comply with the governor’s request. Overall, the measure marks a significant step toward strengthening election law enforcement in Texas by empowering the attorney general to act unilaterally if needed.