HLS 25RS-561 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 482
BY REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
REAPPORTIONMENT: Provides for review of local redistricting plans
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:532.1(C)(4) and to enact R.S. 18:532(F), 532.1(C)(5), and
3 1922.2, relative to the review of local precinct and redistricting plans by the parish
4 registrar of voters and clerk of court prior to adoption; to provide for consultation
5 with a demographer; to provide for transmission of relevant data files; to provide for
6 criteria for review; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 18:532.1(C)(4) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 18:532(F),
9532.1(C)(5), and 1922.2 are hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §532. Establishment of precincts
11 * * *
12 F. Prior to the adoption of an ordinance to establish the boundaries of
13 precincts pursuant to this Section, the parish governing authority shall submit the
14 proposed precincts and boundaries to the clerk of court and registrar of voters to
15 confirm the ability to conduct an election utilizing the proposed boundaries.
16 §532.1. Changing boundaries
17 * * *
18 C.
19 * * *
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-561 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 482
1 (4) In addition to the requirements of Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, when
2 the proposed precinct change involves dividing a precinct, prior to the adoption of
3 the ordinance, the parish governing authority shall submit proposed changes to the
4 clerk of court and registrar of voters to confirm the ability to conduct an election
5 utilizing the proposed boundaries.
6 (5) No precinct boundary change shall become effective for the election
7 unless the information required in this Subsection is received by the secretary of state
8 prior to 4:30 p.m. at least four weeks prior to the date the qualifying period opens.
9 * * *
10 §1922.2. Approval of reapportionment plan by local election officials
11 A. Prior to the adoption of any local redistricting or reapportionment plan,
12 a local governing body shall submit the proposed plan to the parish registrar of voters
13 and clerk of court for review. If the parish governing body utilizes a demographer
14 to produce the proposed plan, the demographer shall be available to the registrar of
15 voters and clerk of court to conduct their review. If the local governing body utilizes
16 a geographic information system to develop its redistricting plan, it shall submit the
17 proposed plan to the registrar of voters and clerk of court electronically in a
18 geospacial shape file or an ASCII, comma delimited block equivalency import file
19 which indicates the census block assignments in accordance with its redistricting
20 plan.
21 B.(1) The registrar of voters shall review and confirm that each district of the
22 proposed plan assigns all of the geography of the affected area without omission or
23 duplication. If the proposed plan utilizes precincts, the registrar shall confirm the
24 proposed plan utilizes the most current precincts established by the parish governing
25 authority pursuant to R.S. 18:532 and 532.1.
26 (2) The registrar of voters and clerk of court shall review and confirm the
27 ability to conduct an election utilizing the proposed plan.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-561 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 482
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 482 Original 2025 Regular Session Thomas
Abstract: Provides for review by the clerk of court and registrar of voters of local
redistricting and reapportionment plans adopted by and precincts established and
changed by a local governing authority.
Present law provides for the parish governing authority to establish precincts, define the
territorial limits for which each precinct is established, prescribe their boundaries, and
designate the precincts.
Proposed law retains present law and requires that prior to the adoption of an ordinance to
establish the boundaries of precincts, the parish governing authority shall submit the
proposed precincts and boundaries to the clerk of court and registrar of voters to confirm the
ability to conduct an election utilizing the proposed boundaries.
Present law authorizes the parish governing authority to change established precincts by
either merging one or more precincts or dividing a precinct into two or more precincts.
Proposed law retains present law and requires that when the proposed precinct change
involves dividing a precinct, prior to the adoption of the ordinance, the parish governing
authority shall submit proposed changes to the clerk of court and registrar of voters to
confirm the ability to conduct an election utilizing the proposed boundaries.
Proposed law provides that prior to the adoption of any local redistricting or reapportionment
plan, a local governing body shall submit the proposed plan to the parish registrar of voters
and clerk of court for review. If the parish governing body utilizes a demographer to
produce the proposed plan, the demographer shall be available to the registrar of voters and
clerk of court to conduct their review. If the local governing body utilizes a geographic
information system to develop its redistricting plan, it shall submit the proposed plan to the
registrar of voters and clerk of court electronically in a shapefile or an ASCII, comma
delimited block equivalency import file which indicates the census block assignments in
accordance with its redistricting plan.
Proposed law provides that the registrar of voters shall review and confirm that each district
of the proposed plan is composed of contiguous geography and that the proposed plan
assigns all of the geography of the affected area without omission or duplication. If the
proposed plan utilizes precincts, the registrar shall confirm the proposed plan shall utilizes
the most current precincts established by the parish governing authority.
Proposed law provides that the registrar of voters and clerk of court shall review and confirm
the ability to conduct an election utilizing the proposed plan.
(Amends R.S. 18:532.1(C)(4); Adds R.S. 18:532(F), 532.1(C)(5), and 1922.2)
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.