Committee Substitute for HB 150 by Solomons relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the Texas House of Representatives, also known as the House Redistricting Bill, was laid out yesterday for consideration on the House floor.
The 2010 census found the state’s population increased by approximately 4.3 million persons over the past decade, reaching a total of 25,145,561 people currently living in Texas. Opponents of CSHB 150 argued the bill will violate the Voting Rights Act and fail to meet legal review because it dilutes minority voting strength by packing minority voters into existing minority districts and reducing five minority coalition districts.
38 floor amendments were offered to CSHB 150 and 10 adopted. After a contentious, 16-hour debate, the House passed CSHB 150 as amended to third reading with 92 ayes and 52 nays, including 3 democrats voting for the final bill and 10 republicans voting against it.