Provides for redistricting of Louisiana congressional districts. (See Act) (OR +$2,934,660 GF EX See Note)

Senate Bill 116 enacts R.S. 18:1276, which redefines Louisiana's six congressional districts by establishing new precinct compositions for each district while simultaneously repealing the previous statutory definition in R.S. 18:1276.1. The bill updates the precinct boundaries based on the "2026 Precinct Shapefiles" dated January 27, 2026, which incorporate voting district modifications submitted to the legislature through January 2026 and validated through the legislative data verification program. The precincts referenced are based on the 2020 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles, modified to reflect precinct changes made by parish governing authorities. The bill specifies that when precincts have been subdivided either on a nongeographic or geographic basis, the precinct designation in the statute includes all such subdivisions, and the district territorial limits remain fixed by law regardless of any future precinct modifications by parish authorities.

The practical effect of this legislation impacts voters, candidates, and various state and local officials whose jurisdictions are based on congressional districts. Voters in the six districts will use the newly drawn boundaries for qualifying and conducting the 2028 federal congressional elections. Individuals holding positions or offices whose appointment or election is based on congressional districts will retain their current terms if they hold office on the effective date, but any positions filled after January 3, 2029, will be appointed or elected based on the new district boundaries established in the bill. This creates a staggered transition affecting future congressional candidates, appointed officials in federal or state positions apportioned by congressional district, and any local officials whose jurisdictions correspond to these boundaries.

The bill operates within the constitutional framework of the Fourteenth Amendment, which requires that congressional districts have substantially equal population levels. The legislation replaces the previous congressional district statute that was based on 2020 census data and reflects adjustments made by parish authorities through early 2026. The staggered effective date ensures that the 2028 elections occur under the new boundaries while preserving existing officials' terms until January 3, 2029, which aligns with the commencement of the new congressional session. The bill's reference to specific precinct shapefile versions anchors the district definitions to objective geographic data while preserving the districts' fixed boundaries even if parish authorities subsequently alter precinct lines, preventing unintended district boundary changes through administrative precinct modifications.