BILL ANALYSIS

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. 375 reaffirms current law relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the Texas Senate.

S.B. 375 affirms 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

SECTION 1. Provides that the purpose of this Act 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 Twenty-fourth Decennial Census of the United States, as provided by Section 28 (Time for Apportionment; Apportionment by Legislative Redistricting Board), Article III (Legislative Department), Texas Constitution.

SECTION 2. Provides that the districts used to elect members of the Texas Senate in 2022, established by Chapter 5 (S.B. 4), Acts of the 87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 2021 (PLANS2168 in the Texas Legislature's redistricting system), are hereby ratified and adopted as the permanent districts used to elect members of the Texas Senate.

SECTION 3. Provides that the legislature finds that the districts described by Section 2 of this Act are a continuation of the districts used for the election of the members of the Senate of the 88th Legislature. Provides that the legislature, accordingly, finds that enactment of this Act does not require a new senate be chosen for the 89th Legislature for purposes of Section 3 (Election and Term of Office of Senators), Article III, Texas Constitution. Provides that the legislature's findings expressed in this section are consistent with the opinion of the court of appeals in Armbrister v. Morales, 943 S.W.2d 202 (Tex. App.-Austin 1997, no pet.).

SECTION 4. Provides that the districts described by Section 2 of this Act 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. Provides that this Act does not affect the membership or districts of the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature.

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.