Texas Representative Kelly Hancock (R-Fort Worth) has introduced HB 1193, to let qualified political parties hold their national presidential conventions as late as they wish. Existing law says qualified parties must certify their presidential and vice-presidential nominees by late August. The bill says they simply must certify their national nominees within one business day after the close of the national convention.

Of course, as most readers of this blog know, last year the Texas Secretary of State ignored the statutory deadline and placed the Republican and Democratic tickets on the ballot anyway, even though they did not meet the statutory deadline.

Bills in Wyoming and Virginia, designed to force qualified parties to hold their national conventions somewhat earlier than they did last year, have made headway. The Virginia bill, SB 1155, imposes a deadline of 74 days before the general election. It has passed the Senate and on February 17 passed a House Subcommittee.

The Wyoming bill, HB 76, has passed the House.

On February 16, the Arkansas Senate unanimously passed HB 1246, one of the two ballot access bills introduced by Green Party legislator Richard Carroll. HB 1246 expands the period for a new party petition from any 60 days of the party’s choosing, to any 90 days. Thanks to Mark Jenkins for the news.

Eight Ohio State Senators have introduced SB 43, to simplify ballot access for presidential candidates running in presidential primaries. Under current law, such presidential candidates must submit the names of a large number of candidates for Delegate to the national convention, when they qualify for the presidential primary ballot. The bill would delete the need for presidential candidates to submit such lists. As under current law, presidential primary candidates would continue to either submit 1,000 signatures, or be qualified for primary season matching funds. The bill’s sponsors include seven Democrats and one Republican. The delegates would be chosen according to party bylaws.