BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1000

By: Darby

Redistricting

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Article III, Section 28 of the Texas Constitution requires the legislature to apportion state senate and house districts at its first regular session following the publication of the U.S. decennial census. However, the publication of the 2020 census data was delayed until after the 2021 regular legislative session. During the 87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, lawmakers adopted district maps for the Texas Senate and House of Representatives, U.S. Congress, and the State Board of Education, but the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, is the first regular session following the publication of the 2020 federal census. H.B. 1000 seeks to ensure that the legislature fulfills its constitutional duty of apportionment by ratifying the Texas House of Representatives district maps passed in 2021.

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

H.B. 1000 ratifies and adopts the districts established by Chapter 1 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 2021, and identified as PLANH2316 in the Texas Legislature’s redistricting system as the districts used to elect members of the Texas House of Representatives. The bill establishes that its purpose is to ensure that the legislature has fulfilled its constitutional duty to apportion the state into representative districts at its first regular session after the publication of the 2020 federal census.

H.B. 1000 specifies that the districts apply to the election of the members of the Texas House of Representatives 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 Texas House of Representatives of the 88th Legislature.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.