BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 4
87S30236 BEF-D	By: Huffman
	Redistricting, Special
	9/20/2021
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Based upon data from the United States decennial census, the Texas Legislature redistricts state senate and house of representatives districts, as well as districts for the United States Congress and the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE).

S.B. 4 amends current law relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the Texas Senate based on recently released data from the 2020 United States Census.

As proposed, S.B. 4 amends current law relating to the composition of districts for the election of members of the Texas Senate.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

ARTICLE I

SECTION 1. (a) Provides that the members of the Texas Senate are elected from the districts described by Article II of this Act.

(b) Provides that one member is elected from each district established by this Act.

ARTICLE II

SECTION 1. Sets forth the composition of District 1.

SECTION 2. Sets forth the composition of District 2.

SECTION 3. Sets forth the composition of District 3.

SECTION 4. Sets forth the composition of District 4.

SECTION 5. Sets forth the composition of District 5.

SECTION 6. Sets forth the composition of District 6.

SECTION 7. Sets forth the composition of District 7.

SECTION 8. Sets forth the composition of District 8.

SECTION 9. Sets forth the composition of District 9.

SECTION 10. Sets forth the composition of District 10.

SECTION 11. Sets forth the composition of District 11.

SECTION 12. Sets forth the composition of District 12.

SECTION 13. Sets forth the composition of District 13.

SECTION 14. Sets forth the composition of District 14.

SECTION 15. Sets forth the composition of District 15.

SECTION 16. Sets forth the composition of District 16.

SECTION 17. Sets forth the composition of District 17.

SECTION 18. Sets forth the composition of District 18.

SECTION 19. Sets forth the composition of District 19.

SECTION 20. Sets forth the composition of District 20.

SECTION 21. Sets forth the composition of District 21.

SECTION 22. Sets forth the composition of District 22.

SECTION 23. Sets forth the composition of District 23.

SECTION 24. Sets forth the composition of District 24.

SECTION 25. Sets forth the composition of District 25.

SECTION 26. Sets forth the composition of District 26.

SECTION 27. Sets forth the composition of District 27.

SECTION 28. Sets forth the composition of District 28.

SECTION 29. Sets forth the composition of District 29.

SECTION 30. Sets forth the composition of District 30.

SECTION 31. Sets forth the composition of District 31.

ARTICLE III

SECTION 1. Defines "tract," "block group," and "block" for purposes of this Act.

SECTION 2. Provides that it is the intent of the Texas Legislature that if any county, tract, block group, block, or other geographic area has erroneously been left out of this Act, a court reviewing this Act should include that area in the appropriate district in accordance with the intent of the legislature, using any available evidence of that intent, including evidence such as that used by the Supreme Court of Texas in Smith v. Patterson, 111 Tex. 535, 242 S.W. 749 (1922).

SECTION 3. (a) Provides that this Act supersedes all previous enactments or orders adopting districts for the Texas Senate. Provides that all previous acts of the legislature adopting districts for the Texas Senate are repealed.

(b) Repealer: Chapter 1 (S.B. 2), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, 1st Called Session, 2013 (relating to the composition of districts for the election of members of the Texas Senate).

SECTION 4. Provides that the districts set out in Article II of this Act apply to the election of the members of the Texas Senate beginning with the primary and general elections in 2022 for members of the 88th Texas Legislature. Provides that this Act does not affect the membership or districts of the Senate of the 87th Texas Legislature.

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.