Jul 14, 2011
According to the 2010 census, Texas’ population grew by approximately 4.3 million people over the last decade. As such, the 82nd Texas Legislature took up Redistricting and passed new maps for the Texas Congressional Delegation, the Texas Senate, the Texas House of Representatives and the State Board of Education (SBOE) during the regular and first called special sessions.
SB 4 – Seliger/Solomons – relating to the composition of the congressional districts of the State of Texas, the Congressional redistricting bill, was sent to the Governor on June 24. The final map is Plan 185. Plan 185 preserves the Republican majority in the Texas Congressional Delegation while adding four new congressional districts.
HB 150 – Solomons/Seliger – relating to the composition of the districts for the election of member of the Texas House of Representatives, was signed by the Governor on June 17. The final map is Plan 283.
SB 31 – Seliger/Solomons – relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the Texas Senate was also signed by the Governor on June 17. The final Senate map is Plan 148.
HB 600 – Solomons/Seliger – relating to the composition of the SBOE districts, Plan 120, was filed without the Governor’s signature on June 18.
Nest steps: The maps are now in the hands of the courts. More than a dozen redistricting cases have been filed around the state, in courts in Sherman, Austin, McAllen and San Antonio. Some cases may be consolidated and it is possible not all will be heard. It is also possible that candidates could be elected from interim maps that are changed again after elections. The March primary elections are eight months away. Candidates are already declaring and, under a new state law, have to file for office by early December to get on the ballot for the 2012 elections.