Dismissing the election contest relating to the office of Representative from the Twenty-eighth Congressional District of Texas.

Bill Number

H.Res. 309

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Passed House

Latest Action

2025-12-09: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Last Updated

2026-07-03T00:52:14Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 309) aims to dismiss a legal challenge to the election results for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in Texas's 28th Congressional District. The dismissal is based solely on the challenge being filed too late with the House.

Key Provisions

• The resolution formally resolves to dismiss the election contest.
• It specifies the grounds for dismissal: untimely filing (meaning the challenge was submitted after the required deadline under House rules).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• No changes are introduced to existing laws or procedures. This is a one-time resolution addressing a specific case, not amending broader election laws or House rules.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: The Clerk of the House is directed to attest to the resolution, formalizing the dismissal and closing the matter administratively.
• On citizens: Voters in Texas's 28th Congressional District will see the official election results upheld, potentially affecting representation if the challenge had succeeded. No broader impact on other citizens or international relations.
• Overall: This upholds the status quo for the district's representation in Congress without further proceedings.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Candidates and contestants: The individuals involved in the election challenge (likely the losing candidate or their supporters) are directly impacted, as their claims are rejected.
• House of Representatives: The body as a whole, which maintains control over its internal election disputes.
• Voters and residents of Texas's 28th District: They retain the elected representative without contest, preserving continuity in local representation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces House rules on deadlines for election contests (under House Rule II and federal election laws like 2 U.S.C. § 388), emphasizing procedural timeliness over the merits of the challenge.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Article I, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution, which grants each chamber of Congress authority to judge the elections and qualifications of its members, allowing the House to resolve such disputes internally.
• Political: Could set a precedent for handling similar future challenges strictly by procedure, potentially discouraging late filings but raising questions about access to recourse if deadlines are missed for valid reasons. No partisan bias is evident in the document itself.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-09: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
• 2025-12-09: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H5102)
• 2025-12-09: Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H5102)
• 2025-12-09: Mr. Steil asked unanimous consent to consider as introduced.
• 2025-12-09: Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H5102)
• 2025-04-09: Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 17.
• 2025-04-09: The House Committee on House Administration reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-52, by Mr. Steil.
• 2025-04-09: The House Committee on House Administration reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-52, by Mr. Steil.

Bill Versions

• Dismissing the election contest relating to the office of Representative from the Twenty-eighth Congressional District of Texas. — issued 2025-12-09 — PDF (1 pages)
• Dismissing the election contest relating to the office of Representative from the Twenty-eighth Congressional District of Texas. — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (2 pages)