DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 823 Original 2022 Regular Session Gaines
Abstract: Provides for the redistricting of the state's congressional districts and provides for the
composition of each of the six congressional districts. Effective upon signature of governor
for election purposes only for the regular congressional elections in 2022 and for all other
purposes at noon on Jan. 3, 2023.
Statistical summaries of proposed law, including district variances from the ideal population
of 776,292 and the range of those variances, as well as maps illustrating proposed district
boundaries accompany this digest. (Attached to the bill version on the internet.)
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 redraws district boundaries for the six congressional districts, effective upon signature
of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action for purposes of the 2022 election.
Proposed law retains present districts until noon on Jan. 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repealed and proposed districts are effective for all other purposes.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 Jan. 3, 2023, for which the appointment or election is based on a
congressional district shall be appointed or elected based on 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 upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action for election purposes
only for the regular congressional elections in 2022; effective at noon on Jan. 3, 2023, for all other
purposes.
(Adds R.S. 18:1276; Repeals R.S. 18:1276.1)