The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by J. W. Wiley.
DIGEST
SB 3 Engrossed 2022 Second Extraordinary Session Ward
Present U.S. Constitution (14th Amendment) provides that representatives in congress shall be
apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole
number of persons in each state. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the population of
congressional districts in the same state must be as nearly equal in population as practicable.
Proposed law, for purposes of the 2022 election, redraws district boundaries for the six congressional
districts, effective upon a final, unappealable judgment by a federal court in certain cases declaring
the congressional plan enacted by Act 5 of the 2022 1st E.S. to be in violation of Section 2 of the
Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Proposed law provides for its effectiveness in lieu of Act No. 5 of the 2022 1st E.S., which also
redrew district boundaries for the six congressional districts based on 2020 Census Redistricting
Data.
Proposed law retains present districts based on 2010 Census Redistricting Data until noon on January
3, 2023, at which time present law is repealed and proposed districts are effective for all other
purposes.
Proposed law specifies that precincts referenced in district descriptions are those precincts identified
as Voting Districts (VTDs) in the 2020 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles for the state
of La. as validated through the data verification program of the La. legislature. Also specifies that
if any such precinct has been subdivided by action of the parish governing authority on a
nongeographic basis or subdivided by action of the parish governing authority on a geographic basis
in accordance with present law, the enumeration of the general precinct designation shall include all
nongeographic and all geographic subdivisions thereof. Further provides that the territorial limits of
the districts as enacted shall continue in effect until changed by law regardless of any subsequent
change made to the precincts by the parish governing authority.
Proposed law specifies that proposed law does not reduce the term of office of any person holding
any position or office on the effective date of proposed law for which the appointment or election
is based upon a congressional district as composed pursuant to present law. Specifies that any
position or office filled after January 3, 2023, for which the appointment or election is based on a
congressional district shall be appointed or elected from a district as it is described in proposed law.
Population data in the summaries accompanying this digest are derived from 2020 Census
Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171), Summary File for Louisiana. Population data, statistical
information, and maps are supplied for purposes of information and analysis and comprise no part
of proposed law. Effective for election purposes only for the regular congressional elections in 2022; effective for all
other purposes at noon on January 3, 2023; provided a final, unappealable judgment by a federal
court in certain cases declares the congressional plan enacted by Act 5 of the 2022 1st E.S. to be in
violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
(Amends R.S. 18:1276; repeals Sections 4 and 5(B) of Act 5 of the 2022 1st E.S.)