BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
S.B. 375
By: Huffman
Redistricting
Committee Report
(Unamended)
S.B. 375
By: Huffman
Redistricting
Committee Report
(Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Texas Legislature redraws
the districts from which members are elected to the state senate and house of
representatives, as well as for the U.S. Congress and the Texas State Board
of Education, based on data from the federal decennial census. S.B. 375 seeks
to reaffirm current law relating to the composition of the districts for the
election of members of the Texas Senate.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion
that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the
punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or
change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or
mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion
that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority
to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
S.B. 375 ratifies and adopts
the districts established by Chapter 5 (S.B. 4), Acts of the 87th
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 2021, and identified as PLANS2168 in the
Texas Legislature's redistricting system as the permanent districts used to elect
members of the Texas Senate. The bill establishes that its purpose is to ensure
the legislature has fulfilled its duty to apportion the state into senatorial
districts at its first regular session after the publication of the 2020
federal census. The bill sets out the following legislative findings
regarding the districts:
·
the districts are a continuation of the districts used for the
election of the members of the Senate of the 88th Legislature;
·
accordingly, the bill's enactment does not require a new senate
be chosen for the 89th Legislature for constitutional purposes; and
·
these legislative findings are consistent with the opinion of
the court of appeals in Armbrister v. Morales.
S.B. 375 specifies that the districts
apply to the election of the members of the Texas Senate beginning with the
primary and general elections in 2024 for members of the 89th Legislature and
that the bill does not affect the membership or districts of the Senate of
the 88th Texas Legislature.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill
does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Texas Legislature redraws
the districts from which members are elected to the state senate and house of
representatives, as well as for the U.S. Congress and the Texas State Board
of Education, based on data from the federal decennial census. S.B. 375 seeks
to reaffirm current law relating to the composition of the districts for the
election of members of the Texas Senate.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion
that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the
punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or
change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or
mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion
that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority
to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
S.B. 375 ratifies and adopts
the districts established by Chapter 5 (S.B. 4), Acts of the 87th
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 2021, and identified as PLANS2168 in the
Texas Legislature's redistricting system as the permanent districts used to elect
members of the Texas Senate. The bill establishes that its purpose is to ensure
the legislature has fulfilled its duty to apportion the state into senatorial
districts at its first regular session after the publication of the 2020
federal census. The bill sets out the following legislative findings
regarding the districts:
·
the districts are a continuation of the districts used for the
election of the members of the Senate of the 88th Legislature;
·
accordingly, the bill's enactment does not require a new senate
be chosen for the 89th Legislature for constitutional purposes; and
·
these legislative findings are consistent with the opinion of
the court of appeals in Armbrister v. Morales.
S.B. 375 specifies that the districts
apply to the election of the members of the Texas Senate beginning with the
primary and general elections in 2024 for members of the 89th Legislature and
that the bill does not affect the membership or districts of the Senate of
the 88th Texas Legislature.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill
does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.