By: Hunter H.B. No. 200
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the composition of districts for the election of
members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to fulfill
the Legislature's constitutional responsibility to establish
districts for the election of members of the United States House of
Representatives following the publication of the 2020 census in
compliance with the United States Constitution and applicable
Federal and state law and the decennial reapportionment of
congressional districts among the states.
SECTION 2. FINDINGS. The Legislature finds:
(1) 2 U.S.C. Section 2a requires the election of
members of the United States House of Representatives from
districts;
(2) As a result of the estimated changes in the
population of the state since 2011, the populations of the current
districts for the election of members of the United States House of
Representatives are unequal and no longer comply with applicable
legal requirements; and
(3) The current districts must be replaced following
publication of the decennial census with new districts that satisfy
all applicable legal requirements.
SECTION 3. COMPOSITION OF DISTRICTS. (a) The State of
Texas is divided into congressional districts as provided in this
Act. Each district is composed of the counties or parts of counties
as determined by the Legislature consistent with the requirements
of the United States and Texas Constitutions and applicable Federal
law.
(b) One member of the United States House of Representatives
is elected from each district established under this Act.
SECTION 4. TRANSITION PROVISION. The districts established
by this Act apply to the election of the members of the United
States House of Representatives of the 118th Congress beginning
with the primary and general elections in 2022. This Act does not
affect the membership or districts of members of the United States
House of Representatives of the 117th Congress.
SECTION 5. REPEALER. (a) This Act supersedes all previous
enactments or orders adopting districts for the United States House
of Representatives. All previous acts of the legislature adopting
districts for the United States House of Representatives are
repealed.
(b) Chapter 3 (S.B. 4), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, 1st
Called Session, 2013, is repealed.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.