HLS 24RS-774 REENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 442
BY REPRESENTATIVES ROBBY CARTER, MUSCARELLO, AND WILEY
JUDGES: Creates an additional judgeship for the 21
st
Judicial District Court
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 13:477(21) and 621.21(A) and (E), relative to the Twenty-First
3 Judicial District Court; to create an additional judgeship for the Twenty-First Judicial
4 District Court; to provide for the election and term of the additional judge; to provide
5 for election sections from which judges are elected; to provide for effectiveness; and
6 to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 13:477(21) and 621.21(A) and (E) are hereby amended and reenacted
9to read as follows:
10 §477. Judicial districts
11 There shall be forty-one judicial districts in the state and each district shall
12 be composed as follows:
13 * * *
14 (21) The parishes of Tangipahoa, Livingston, and St. Helena shall compose
15 the Twenty-First District. The Twenty-First District consists of two election
16 sections. Election section one is composed of Tangipahoa, Livingston, and St.
17 Helena Parishes. Election section two is composed of St. Helena Parish and Precincts
18 2, 6, 11, 15, 16, 17, 43, 46, 47, 49, 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109, 111A, 115B,
19 119, 123, and 129A of Tangipahoa Parish.
20 * * *
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are additions. HLS 24RS-774 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 442
1 §621.21. Twenty-First Judicial District
2 A. The Twenty-First Judicial District Court shall have nine ten judges.
3 * * *
4 E.(1) The Nine judges and their successors created by this Section shall be
5 elected at large from election section one and shall have jurisdiction throughout the
6 district. The judges shall be elected for a six-year term at the congressional election
7 held in 2014 and every sixth year thereafter.
8 (2)(a) The additional judge added to the court pursuant to the Act that
9 originated as House Bill No. 442 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Louisiana
10 Legislature shall be elected from election section two as provided by R.S. 13:477(21)
11 and shall have jurisdiction throughout the district.
12 (b) The individual to be elected to the additional judgeship shall be elected
13 as provided by Article V, Section 22 of the Constitution of Louisiana and shall serve
14 a term which begins on the first January first following the effective date of Section
15 1 of the Act that originated as House Bill No. 442 of the 2024 Regular Session of the
16 Louisiana Legislature, and which shall expire at the same time as is provided by law
17 for the other judges of the court. Thereafter, the successors to the judge provided for
18 in this Paragraph shall be elected at the same time and shall serve the same term as
19 is provided by law for other judges of the court.
20 * * *
21 Section 2.(A) The precincts referenced in this Act are those contained in the file
22named "2024 Precinct Shapefiles (01-10-2024)" available on the Legislature of Louisiana's
23website on the effective date of this Section. The 2024 Precinct Shapefiles are based upon
24those Voting Districts (VTDs) contained in the 2020 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line
25Shapefiles for the State of Louisiana as those files have been modified and validated through
26the data verification program of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana
27Senate to represent precinct changes submitted through January 10, 2024, to the Legislature
28of Louisiana by parish governing authorities pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 18:532 and
29532.1.
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are additions. HLS 24RS-774 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 442
1 (B) When a precinct referenced in this Act has been subdivided by action of the
2parish governing authority on a nongeographic basis or subdivided by action of the parish
3governing authority on a geographic basis in accordance with the provisions of R.S.
418:532.1, the enumeration in this Act of the general precinct designation shall include all
5nongeographic and all geographic subdivisions thereof, however such subdivisions may be
6designated.
7 (C) The territorial limits of the districts as provided in this Act shall continue in
8effect until changed by law regardless of any subsequent change made to the precincts by
9the parish governing authority.
10 Section 3.(A) The provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of this Act shall become effective
11if and when a work point study by the National Center for State Courts is completed in
12accordance with House Concurrent Resolution No. 39 of the 2024 Regular Session of the
13Louisiana Legislature and the work point study concludes the additional district court
14judgeship is necessary.
15 (B) The provisions of this Section shall become effective upon signature by the
16governor or, if not signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become
17law without signature by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the
18Constitution of Louisiana. If vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the
19legislature, this Section shall become effective on the day following such approval.
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 442 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Robby Carter
Abstract: Creates an additional judgeship for the 21st Judicial District Court and provides
an election section from which the judge is to be elected.
Statistical summaries of proposed law including maps illustrating proposed district
boundaries accompany this digest. (Attached to the bill version on the internet.)
Present law provides that the 21st Judicial District Court is comprised of Livingston,
St. Helena, and Tangipahoa Parishes. Provides that the 21st Judicial District Court has nine
judges, who are elected at large.
Proposed law adds a 10th judge to the 21st Judicial District Court.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-774 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 442
Proposed law divides the 21st Judicial District Court into two election sections and provides
that nine judges are assigned to election section one and one judge is assigned to election
section two.
Provides that the additional judge added by proposed law shall be elected from election
section two and that his initial term begins on the first January first following the effective
date of Section 1 of the Act that originated as HB 442 of the 2024 Regular Session.
Proposed law specifies that precincts referenced in district descriptions are those precincts
contained in the file named "2024 Precinct Shapefiles (01-10-2024)" available on the
legislature's website. Provides 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 La. as those files have been modified and validated through the data verification
program of the La. House of Representatives and the La. Senate to represent precinct
changes submitted through Jan. 10, 2024, to the Legislature of La. by parish governing
authorities.
Proposed law 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.
Population data in the summaries accompanying this digest are derived from 2020 Census
Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171), Summary File for La. Population data, statistical
information, and maps are supplied for purposes of information and analysis and comprise
no part of proposed law.
Effective upon the completion of a work point study conducted by the National Center of
State Courts is completed in accordance with HCR 39 of the 2024 Regular Session and the
work point study concludes the additional judgeship is necessary.
(Amends R.S. 13:477(21) and 621.21(A) and (E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1. Provide the specific boundaries of two election sections.
2. Provide an effective date.
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Appropriations to the
engrossed bill:
1. Revise the boundaries of election section one.
2. Provide that the additional judge shall have jurisdiction throughout the district.
3. Remove the requirement that the additional judge be elected in the same manner
as the judges elected from election section one.
4. Provide for identification of the precincts referenced in proposed law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-774 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 442
5. Make effectiveness of the bill contingent upon the completion of a work point
study by the National Center for State Courts in accordance with HCR 39 of the
2024 Regular Session.
Page 5 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. 243,542Election Section 1 9 257,715 -14,173 -5.499%
42,817Election Section 2 1 28,635 14,182 49.527%
Plan: HCA 1715 - HB 442 (Carter)
Plan Statistics
Districts: Relative DeviationAbsolute Deviation# of Members Actual PopulationIdeal Population
Grand Total: 10 286,359 286,350
Ideal Population Per Member:
Number of Districts for Plan Type:
Absolute Mean Deviation:
Range of District Populations:
Absolute Overall Range:
Absolute Range:
Relative Overall Range:
Relative Range:
Relative Mean Deviation:
Ideal - Actual:
Unassigned Population:
Remainder:
28635
2
42,817
14,178
-14,173
28,355
27.51%
-5.50%
55.03%
to
to
to
243,542
14,182
49.53%
-9
9
0 Election Section 1 36,707 2,979 5,235 13,020243,542 185,601 14,821 182,672 8,6613,8962,05724,647143,411 9,417
15.072% 1.223% 2.150% 5.346%100.000% 76.209% 6.086%100.000% 13.492%78.507% 1.126% 2.133% 4.741% 5.155%
Election Section 2 23,861 231 464 1,14442,817 17,117 1,428 32,423 79435117017,07714,031 962
55.728% 0.540% 1.084% 2.672%100.000% 39.977% 3.335%100.000% 52.669%43.275% 0.524% 1.083% 2.449% 2.967%
Plan: HCA 1715 - HB 442 (Carter)
Total Population
Total
Population VAP Total
Total
Hispanic
Total
Other
Total
American
Indian
Total
Asian
Total
White
Total
Black VAP WhiteVAP BlackVAP Asian
VAP
American
IndianVAP Other
VAP
Hispanic
Total
Grand Total 60,568 3,210 5,699 14,164286,359 202,718 16,249 215,095 9,4554,2472,22741,724157,442 10,379
21.151% 1.121% 1.990% 4.946%100.000% 70.792% 5.674%100.000% 4.396%1.974%1.035%19.398%73.196% 4.825% Election Section 1 12,794 5,023 28,440 64,951130,766 112,949 37,375
9.784% 3.841% 21.749% 49.670%71.585% 86.375% 28.582%
Election Section 2 12,152 529 12,715 5,69323,185 10,504 4,777
52.413% 2.282% 54.841% 24.555%71.508% 45.305% 20.604%
Plan: HCA 1715 - HB 442 (Carter)
Voter Registration
Reg Total
Dec 2023
Reg Other
Total
Dec 2023
Reg Rep
Total
Dec 2023
Reg Dem
Total
Dec 2023
Reg Other
Dec 2023
Reg White
Dec 2023
Reg Black
Dec 2023
Grand Total 24,946 5,552 41,155 70,644153,951 123,453 42,152 Election Section 1
Livingston 12,658 1,697 3,111 7,961142,282 116,855 105,141 88,432 82,4055,1632,3111,0998,136 5,64273,655 3,108
*Tangipahoa 24,049 1,282 2,124 5,059101,260 68,746 77,531 54,979 48,3613,4981,58595816,511 7,15239,294 1,915
Election Section 1 36,707 2,979 5,235 13,020243,542 185,601 182,672 143,411 130,7668,6613,8962,05724,647 112,949 12,794 5,023
15.072% 1.223% 2.150% 5.346%100.000% 76.209% 100.000% 78.507% 71.585%4.741%2.133%1.126%13.492% 86.375% 9.784% 3.841%
Election Section 2
St. Helena 6,031 39 134 18910,920 4,527 8,463 3,805 8,260150109284,371 4,4923,626 142
*Tangipahoa 17,830 192 330 95531,897 12,590 23,960 10,226 14,92564424214212,706 7,6606,878 387
Election Section 2 23,861 231 464 1,14442,817 17,117 32,423 14,031 23,18579435117017,077 10,504 12,152 529
55.728% 0.540% 1.084% 2.672%100.000% 39.977% 100.000% 43.275% 71.508%2.449%1.083%0.524%52.669% 45.305% 52.413% 2.282%
Plan: HCA 1715 - HB 442 (Carter)
Splits
Total
Population VAP WhiteVAP Total
Total
Other
Total
American
Indian
Total
Asian
Total
White
Total
Black VAP BlackVAP Asian
VAP
American
IndianVAP Other
Reg Total
Dec 2023
Reg White
Dec 2023
Reg Black
Dec 2023
Reg Other
Dec 2023 EBR
Tangipahoa
Livingston St. Tammany
WashingtonE Feliciana
St. Helena
St. John
Iberville
Ascension
WBR
W Feliciana
Orleans
Jefferson
5
2
4
1-1
16
15
3-1
6
6-1
8
14
13
9
6B
151
4-1
7
35
2-1
2-6
6
409
1-1
9-1
2-5
116
1-2
3
9
12
703
12
6
104
17
120
7-2
2
6A
2-1
7
7-1
149A
6-1
M01
110
102
11
6-4
5-1
36
6-3
38
3
5-4
11
18
3
14
2-7
20
705
1
8
101
201
8-3
503
106
22
23
8-1
A03
114
19
1
4-9
19
10
10
124
108
118
22
8-2
6-2
112
5
MD1
6-2
3-3C
205
605
203
502
M02
120A
10
19A
15
504
505
501
406
5-1
1
32
117
204
5-2
107
3-3
2
M04
1B
4-11
106A
302
105
3-2
18
16
101
602
12B
8A
202
4-4
609
12A
11
44
17
2-8
303
102
4C
109
6
15B
21A
12A
43
5
45
12
4
123
17
13A
11A
4
10A
1A
2-26
8B
301
6
122C
3-50
3-47
704
9
27
1-2
111A
4A
207
2-1
702
108
11
1477
F01
119
2-37
3
5
3-3B
24
3
8
901
118A
3-1
27
121A
122B
43
2-21
4-10
3-56
2-28
14
2-2
24
3A
76
701
26
2
420
2-35
3-6
5B
13B
1
2-15
3-9
36A
43
16
125
3-3A
118
11
29
5A
401
2-32
3-30
39
13A
314
143
15
4A
2-14
2-13
2-3
33
13
25
4-2
34
1B
1-17
3-37
3-57
133
A02
21B
71
145
65
103
3-21
72A
28
7
4A
13
3-26
7B
64
310
74
11
127
10B
137
42
36
40
121
8
A01
23C
143A
2-25
3-8
25
25
28
45A
5D
3-5
3-2
7C
4-9A
22
3A
2-33
12
3-61
9
21
2-1
6
405
73
122A
9
37
3-48
41
3-25
2-34
110
411
149
2-3
61
C09
20
3A
33
139
72
17
1-91
3-19
38
7A
18
20
3-14
41
33
23
23B
2-24
2A
304
107
133A
706
39A
3-2
26
1C
70
3-46
40A
114
71
3-22
206
137C
69
137A
10
47
16
8C
3-67
105
3-69
2-9
24C
46
63
42
35
30
116
41
3-39
2-12
3-24
112
1-5
111
21
1-1
1-46
26
141A
77
2-22
14B
7D
49!
1
!
2
21st Judicial District Court - Election Sections