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 5 Original 2024 First Extraordinary Session Marcelle
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 2024 and at noon on
January 3, 2025, for all other purposes.
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.
Present law provides for six congressional districts based upon the 2020 federal decennial census.
Proposed law redraws district boundaries for the congressional districts based upon the 2020 federal
decennial census.
Proposed law provides that the new districts become effective upon signature of governor or lapse
of time for gubernatorial action for election purposes only for the regular congressional elections in
2024. Retains present law districts based upon the 2020 census until noon on January 3, 2025, at
which time present law is repealed and the new districts based upon the 2020 census, as established
by proposed law, become effective for all other purposes.
Proposed law specifies that precincts referenced in district descriptions are those precincts identified
as Voting Districts (VTDs) contained in the file named "2024 Precinct Shapefiles (1-10-2024)"
available on the La. legislature's website. Specifies that the 2024 Precinct Shapefiles are based upon
those Voting Districts (VTDs) contained in the 2020 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles
for the State of Louisiana as those files have been modified and 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. 1, 2025, for which the appointment or election is based upon 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 upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action for election purposes
only for the regular congressional elections in 2024; effective for all other purposes at noon on
January 3, 2025.
(Adds R.S. 18:1276.1; Repeals R.S. 18:1276)