House Bill 3113 sparked heated discussions during the Senate Committee on State Affairs meeting on May 8, 2025, as lawmakers and public witnesses debated the future of election processes in Texas. The bill, introduced by Senator Flores, aims to require counties that opt for hand counting ballots to use scannable paper ballots, a move intended to enhance voter confidence and streamline election verification.

Senator Flores emphasized the bill's goal of increasing accuracy and security in elections, stating, "By creating this requirement, elections can be verified quickly, accurately, and securely." However, the proposal faced significant opposition from several public witnesses, including representatives from local election integrity groups. Critics argued that the bill would impose unnecessary costs on smaller counties and undermine the successful hand counting practices already in place.

Cindy Castillo, representing the Texas Eagle Forum, expressed her opposition, claiming the bill promotes vendor interests rather than serving the public. "We think it encourages the wrong direction for elections," she stated, highlighting concerns over the readability of machine-printed ballots. Angela Smith from the Fredericksburg Tea Party echoed these sentiments, questioning the motivations behind the bill and asserting that it would complicate the hand counting process.

Jeanette Harmuth, another vocal opponent, pointed out that the bill would force counties to contract with specific vendors for ballot formatting, which she deemed an unjust burden. "This is a vendor bill that will force hand count counties to subsidize machine companies for services they do not need," she argued.

Despite the pushback, the committee left the bill pending, indicating that further discussions and revisions may be necessary before any final decisions are made. The outcome of House Bill 3113 could significantly impact how elections are conducted in Texas, particularly for counties that prefer hand counting methods. As the debate continues, the voices of local constituents remain a critical factor in shaping the future of election integrity in the state.