House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant changes to the legislative redistricting process in Louisiana by enacting R.S. 24:35 and repealing R.S. 24:35.1. The new legislation establishes the Louisiana Senate to consist of thirty-nine members, with detailed precincts outlined for each senatorial district based on the 2020 federal decennial census. The bill specifies the composition of each district, including various parishes such as Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Tammany, and aims to modernize and clarify representation within the Senate to reflect the state's demographic and geographic diversity. The new district boundaries will take effect for election purposes upon the governor's signature or after the lapse of time for gubernatorial action for the regular state legislative elections in 2027, while for all other purposes, they will take effect at 10:00 a.m. on January 10, 2028.

Additionally, the bill includes new legal language that specifies the demographic breakdown of District 39, reflecting a population composition of 100% with 38.261% White and 56.263% Black residents, among others. It also introduces demographic details for St. Tammany, which has a population of 121,386, with 96,612 White and 10,769 Black residents. The bill aims to enhance fairness and equity in electoral processes by ensuring that representation accurately reflects current population demographics. Furthermore, it includes the deletion of previous legal language that may have outlined different demographic statistics or district configurations, thereby streamlining the legal framework governing legislative redistricting and ensuring effective governance and resource allocation.

Statutes affected:
HB487 Original: