Proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the time in which the legislature may enact or modify districts for the United States House of Representatives.

The text as introduced · 292 words

90R3113 MLH-D

By: Reynolds
H.J.R. No. 53

A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the time in which the

legislature may enact or modify districts for the United States

House of Representatives.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by

adding Section 28C to read as follows:

Sec. 28C. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this

section, the legislature may not enact a bill that provides for or

modifies the composition of districts for the election of members

of the United States House of Representatives at a time other than:

(1) the calendar year in which the federal decennial

census is released, if the census is released on or before September

1; or

(2) a 120-day period beginning on the day the census is

released, if the census is released after September 1.

(b) If a trial or appellate court or other governmental

agency with jurisdiction over the matter finds that one or more

districts in effect for or previously enacted or ordered for the

election of members of the United States House of Representatives

are invalid or takes any action that has the effect of prohibiting

this state from holding elections in one or more of those districts,

the legislature may enact a bill described by Subsection (a) of this

section in response to the finding or action.

SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2027.

The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the

proposition: "The constitutional amendment to limit the time in

which the legislature may enact or modify districts for the United

States House of Representatives."