HLS 25RS-854 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 536
BY REPRESENTATIVE LYONS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
REAPPORTIONMENT/JUDGES: Provides for the election of judges of the first district of
the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 13:312(5)(b)(i) and 312.1(E)(2), relative to the Fifth Circuit
3 Court of Appeal; to provide for the election of judges from the first district of the
4 Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal; to provide for the redistricting of judges; to provide
5 for election sections; to provide for the filling of vacancies; to provide for
6 effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 13:312(5)(b)(i) and 312.1(E)(2) are hereby amended and reenacted
9to read as follows:
10 §312. Courts of appeal; circuits and districts
11 There shall be five court of appeal circuits, which shall be subdivided into
12 districts as follows:
13 * * *
14 5.
15 * * *
16 (b) Districts of the fifth circuit.
17 (i) The parish of Jefferson shall compose the first district of the fifth circuit.
18 The first district shall be further divided into two three election sections. Election
19 section one shall consist of Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
20 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39,
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HB NO. 536
1 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66,
2 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89,
3 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 116, 117,
4 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134,
5 136, 138, 152, 155, 157A, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179-A, 182, 183,
6 184, 185A, 185B, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197A, 197B, 197C, 198,
7 199, 202, 203, 204, 205, 210, 211, 212A, 212B, 213A, 213B, 213C, 214A, 214B,
8 215, 216, 217, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238,
9 246, 247, 248, 249, 1-G, 2-G, 3-G, 4-G, 5-G, 6-G, 7-G, 8-G, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G, 1-GI,
10 1-H, 2-H, 3-H, 4-H, 5-H, 6-H, 7-H, 8-H, 9-H, 13-KA, 1-K, 2-K, 3-K, 4-K, 5-K, 6-K,
11 7-K, 8-K, 9-K, 10-K, 11-K, 12-K, 14-K, 15-K, 16-K, 17-K,18-K, 19-K, 20-K, 25-K,
12 27-K, 28-K, 29-K, 30-K, 34-K, 35-K, 1-L, 1-W, 3-W, 4-W, 5-W, 6-W, and 7-W of
13 Jefferson Parish. Election section two shall consist of Precincts 104, 108, 115, 150,
14 151, 153, 154,156, 157B, 179B, 180, 181, 187, 188, 200, 201, 13-KB, 21-K, 22-K,
15 23-K, 24-K, 26-K, 31-K, 33-K, 173 and 2-W.
16 (aa) Election Section One is composed of Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10,
17 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,
18 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60,
19 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84,
20 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106,
21 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125A, 125B, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130,
22 131, 132, 133, 134, 136, 138, 152, 155, 157A, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 177,
23 178, 179A, 182, 183, 185A, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193A, 193B, 198, 199, 202, 203,
24 210, 211, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232A, 232B, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238A,
25 238B, 246, 247, 248, 1-G, 2-G, 3-G, 4-G, 5-G, 6-G, 7-G, 8-G, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G,
26 12-G, 13-G, 1-GI, 1-H, 2-H, 3-H, 4-H, 5-H, 6-H, 7-H, 8-H, 9-H, 1-K, 2-K, 3-K, 4-K,
27 5-K, 6-KA, 6-KB, 7-KA, 7-KB, 8-K, 9-K, 10-K, 11-K, 12-K, 13-KA, 14-K, 15-K,
28 16-K, 17-K, 18-K, 19-K, 20-K, 25-K, 27-K, 28-K, 29-K, 30-K, 34-K, 35-K, 1-L,
29 1-W, 3-W, 4-W, 5-W, 6-W, and 7-W of Jefferson Parish.
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HB NO. 536
1 (bb) Election Section Two is composed of Precincts 104, 108, 115, 150A,
2 150B, 151, 153, 154, 156, 173, 179B, 180, 181, 187, 188, 200, 201, 13-KB, 21-K,
3 22-K, 23-K, 24-K, 26-K, 31-K, 33-K, and 2-W of Jefferson Parish.
4 (cc) Election Section Three is composed of Precincts 184, 185B, 194A,
5 194B, 195, 196, 197A, 197B, 204, 205, 212, 213A, 213B, 213C, 214A, 214B, 215,
6 216A, 216B, and 217 of Jefferson Parish.
7 * * *
8 §312.1. Circuit court of appeal; domicile; number of judges; election
9 * * *
10 E.
11 * * *
12 (2)(a) Six judges shall be elected from the first district of the fifth circuit by
13 the qualified electors thereof in the manner provided in this Paragraph.
14 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph:
15 (i) (a) The first vacancy created by the death, resignation, retirement, or
16 removal of a judge of the first district who was elected by the qualified electors of
17 election section one occurring after August 15, 2007, the effective date of the Act
18 that originated as House Bill No.___ of the 2025 Regular Session of the Legislature
19 shall be filled by election from election section two three of the first district and such
20 judgeship shall be assigned to election section two three of the first district for
21 election purposes thereafter. However, if no election has occurred or is scheduled to
22 occur to fill a vacancy in such a judgeship from election section two three prior to
23 the opening of qualifying for the regular statewide elections in 2012 2030, the
24 regular election to fill the judgeship designated as Division G B of the first district
25 shall be held in election section two three of the first district and such division shall
26 be assigned to election section two three for election purposes thereafter.
27 (ii) (b) At the time a judgeship is assigned to election section two three, the
28 remaining five four judgeships in the first district shall be assigned to election
29 section one for election purposes thereafter.
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are additions. HLS 25RS-854 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 536
1 (c) One judgeship shall be assigned to election section two.
2 * * *
3 Section 2.(A) The precincts referenced in this Act are those contained in the file
4named "2025 Precinct Shapefiles (1-16-2025)" available on the website of the Legislature
5of Louisiana on the effective date of this Section. The 2025 Precinct Shapefiles are based
6upon those Voting Districts (VTDs) contained in the 2020 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line
7Shapefiles for the State of Louisiana as those files have been modified and validated through
8the data verification program of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana
9Senate to represent precinct changes submitted through January 16, 2025, to the Legislature
10of Louisiana by parish governing authorities pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 18:532 and
11532.1.
12 (B) When a precinct referenced in this Act has been subdivided by action of the
13parish governing authority on a nongeographic basis or subdivided by action of the parish
14governing authority on a geographic basis in accordance with the provisions of R.S.
1518:532.1, the enumeration in this Act of the general precinct designation shall include all
16nongeographic and all geographic subdivisions thereof, however such subdivisions may be
17designated.
18 (C) The territorial limits of the districts as provided in this Act shall continue in
19effect until changed by law regardless of any subsequent change made to the precincts by
20the parish governing authority.
21 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
22signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
23by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
24vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
25effective on the day following such approval.
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are additions. HLS 25RS-854 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 536
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 536 Original 2025 Regular Session Lyons
Abstract: Provides for an additional election section in the first district of the Fifth Circuit
Court of Appeals. Effective upon the signature of the governor for all purposes.
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 for composition of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Provides that the
parishes of Jefferson, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist shall compose the fifth
circuit. Further provides that the parish of Jefferson shall compose the first district of the
fifth circuit. The parish of St. James and that portion of St. John the Baptist Parish east of
the Mississippi River shall compose the second district of the fifth circuit. The parish of St.
Charles and that portion of St. John the Baptist Parish west of the Mississippi River shall
compose the third district of the fifth circuit.
Present law provides that the fifth circuit shall be composed of eight judges. Provides that
six judges shall be elected from the first district of the fifth circuit by the qualified electors
thereof. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides further that the first district of the fifth circuit shall be divided into two
election sections and provides that five judges are assigned to election section one and one
judge is assigned to election section two.
Proposed law instead provides that the first district shall be divided into three election
sections. Further provides that four judges are assigned to election section one, one judge
is assigned to election section two, and one judge is assigned to election section three.
Proposed law provides that the first vacancy created by the death, resignation, retirement,
or removal of a judge of the first district who was elected by the qualified electors of election
section one shall be filled by election from election section three and such judgeship shall
be assigned to election section three for election purposes thereafter. However, if no election
has occurred or is scheduled to occur to fill a vacancy in such a judgeship from election
section three prior to the opening of qualifying for the regular statewide elections in 2030,
the regular election to fill the judgeship designated as Division B of the first district shall be
held in election section three of the first district and such division shall be assigned to
election section three for election purposes thereafter.
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 without change regardless of any subsequent change made to the
precincts by the parish governing authority.
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are additions. HLS 25RS-854 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 536
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 13:312(5)(b)(i) and 312.1(E)(2))
Page 6 of 6
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are additions. 354,017ElectionSection1 4 293,852 60,165 20.475%
41,708ElectionSection2 1 73,463 -31,755 -43.226%
45,056ElectionSection3 1 73,463 -28,407 -38.668%
Plan: HLS 25RS-854 (Lyons)
Plan Statistics
Districts: Relative DeviationAbsolute Deviation# of Members Actual PopulationIdeal Population
Grand Total: 6 440,781 440,778
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:
73463
3
41,708
30,640
-31,755
91,920
34.12%
-43.23%
63.70%
to
to
to
354,017
60,165
20.47%
-3
3
0 ElectionSection1 71,126 18,517 6,772 53,509354,017 204,093 67,159 279,820 38,2865,15514,22651,792170,361 47,371
20.091% 5.231% 1.913% 15.115%100.000% 57.651% 18.971%100.000% 18.509%60.882% 5.084% 1.842% 13.682% 16.929%
ElectionSection2 30,103 695 418 5,00541,708 5,487 6,340 30,802 3,39929953322,1404,431 4,252
72.176% 1.666% 1.002% 12.000%100.000% 13.156% 15.201%100.000% 71.878%14.385% 1.730% 0.971% 11.035% 13.804%
ElectionSection3 24,988 3,812 496 4,40545,056 11,355 5,558 34,032 3,1323812,93318,2439,343 3,861
55.460% 8.461% 1.101% 9.777%100.000% 25.202% 12.336%100.000% 53.605%27.454% 8.618% 1.120% 9.203% 11.345%
Plan: HLS 25RS-854 (Lyons)
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 126,217 23,024 7,686 62,919440,781 220,935 79,057 344,654 44,8175,83517,69292,175184,135 55,484
28.635% 5.223% 1.744% 14.274%100.000% 50.124% 17.936%100.000% 13.003%1.693%5.133%26.744%53.426% 16.098% ElectionSection1 33,130 29,626 62,224 76,647204,519 141,763 65,648
16.199% 14.486% 30.425% 37.477%73.089% 69.315% 32.099%
ElectionSection2 19,299 2,074 16,120 1,80524,367 2,994 6,442
79.201% 8.512% 66.155% 7.408%79.108% 12.287% 26.437%
ElectionSection3 14,992 4,273 14,257 4,49526,519 7,254 7,767
56.533% 16.113% 53.761% 16.950%77.924% 27.354% 29.288%
Plan: HLS 25RS-854 (Lyons)
Voter Registration
Reg Total
Dec 2024
Reg Other
Total
Dec 2024
Reg Rep
Total
Dec 2024
Reg Dem
Total
Dec 2024
Reg Other
Dec 2024
Reg White
Dec 2024
Reg Black
Dec 2024
Grand Total 67,421 35,973 92,601 82,947255,405 152,011 79,857 ElectionSection1
*Jefferson 71,126 18,517 6,772 53,509354,017 204,093 279,820 170,361 204,51938,2865,15514,22651,792 33,130141,763 29,626
ElectionSection1 71,126 18,517 6,772 53,509354,017 204,093 279,820 170,361 204,51938,2865,15514,22651,792 141,763 33,130 29,626
20.091% 5.231% 1.913% 15.115%100.000% 57.651% 100.000% 60.882% 73.089%13.682%1.842%5.084%18.509% 69.315% 16.199% 14.486%
ElectionSection2
*Jefferson 30,103 695 418 5,00541,708 5,487 30,802 4,431 24,3673,39929953322,140 19,2992,994 2,074
ElectionSection2 30,103 695 418 5,00541,708 5,487 30,802 4,431 24,3673,39929953322,140 2,994 19,299 2,074
72.176% 1.666% 1.002% 12.000%100.000% 13.156% 100.000% 14.385% 79.108%11.035%0.971%1.730%71.878% 12.287% 79.201% 8.512%
ElectionSection3
*Jefferson 24,988 3,812 496 4,40545,056 11,355 34,032 9,343 26,5193,1323812,93318,243 14,9927,254 4,273
ElectionSection3 24,988 3,812 496 4,40545,056 11,355 34,032 9,343 26,5193,1323812,93318,243 7,254 14,992 4,273
55.460% 8.461% 1.101% 9.777%100.000% 25.202% 100.000% 27.454% 77.924%9.203%1.120%8.618%53.605% 27.354% 56.533% 16.113%
Plan: HLS 25RS-854 (Lyons)
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 2024
Reg White
Dec 2024
Reg Black
Dec 2024
Reg Other
Dec 2024 LafourcheLafourche
JeffersonJefferson
PlaqueminesPlaquemines
St. CharlesSt. Charles
OrleansOrleans
St. BernardSt. Bernard
TerrebonneTerrebonne
St. John the BaptistSt. John the Baptist
8-2
248
10-8
4-2
51
1-3
1-2
10-6
10-4
8-1
58
1-1
10-1
7-1
10-2
55
2-5
5-5
50
247
199
8-1
10-11
11-1
9-45
7-2
151
9-2
156
4-6
6-4
4-4
6-2
41
1-3
9-32
2-1
10-13
10-10
63
53
ZZZZZZ
1-GI
188
5-1A
ZZZZZZ
1-L
6-1
197A
33
2-6
246
2-4
15-19A
3-1
121-2
4-3
52
5-1
22
10-9
170
150A
10-3
10-15
15
7-5
2-3
9-45A
1-5
!
1
!
2
!
3
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal HLS 25RS-854 (Lyons) JeffersonJefferson
OrleansOrleans
St. CharlesSt. Charles
PlaqueminesPlaquemines
St. BernardSt. Bernard
4-2
199
ZZZZZZ
151
156
8-1
ZZZZZZ
2-5
188
5-1A
197A
6-1
246
1-L
248
170
150A
194B
6-2
157A
203
152
125B
1-2
26-K
247
5-16
5-1
9-32
171
153
9-28
124
155
9
136
184
3
3-1
1-W
5823-K
211
225
196
1
3-8
51
9-42
31-K
8-30
217
24
214B
9-42C
1-1
1-1
189
6-W
57
198
7-H
132
73
126
215
182
23
60
5
28
9-6
29
234
13-1
25-K
71
7
185A
201
2-G
204
68
9-31D
192
4-1
191
230
103
9-33
44
52
4-9
187
8-H
15-14G
237
9-H
226
33-K
1-K
13
18
22
2-1
172
21
7-KB
30
11
31
190
72
9-9
8
38
5-K
59
236
66
33
78
34
181
98
179A
17-K
69
7-40
228
54
227
194A
229
8-K
7-KA
75
39
173
65
19-K
80
46
45
7-37
!
1
!
2
!
3
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal HLS 25RS-854 (Lyons)