DALLAS — On Thursday, a bill that would allow cities to move their municipal elections passed through a Texas House committee. 

Senate Bill 1494, authored by state Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, would allow cities like Dallas to move their general city elections from May to November in odd-numbered years. 

The bill was unanimously passed out of the House Committee on Elections on Thursday.

The Texas Senate passed the bill back in April by a vote of 30-0.

The text of the bill says a “governing body of a political subdivision, other than a county or municipal utility district, that holds its general election for officers on a date other than the November uniform election date may, not later than December 31, 2026, change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to the November uniform election date.”

During the November general election, voters approved a proposition that removed the requirement for Dallas City Council elections to be held in May from the city charter.

Average voter turnout for May elections is much lower than November elections. Only about 8% of Dallas County registered voters participated in the May 2025 election.