Video & Transcript Research : 'reapportionment'
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AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Special Session 2026 May 5th, 2026
Ways and Means General Fund
Bills:
HB1
Keywords:
HB1, Alabama, elections, primary election, special primary, runoff, congressional districts, redistricting, reapportionment, district boundaries, federal court, injunction, judgment, Governor proclamation, nominee certification, party nominee, general election 2026, election calendar, voting rights, congressional race
Summary:
The Ways and Means General Fund Committee met in special session and took up only one bill, HB 1 by Rep. Chris Pringle, which would authorize a special election for certain congressional districts if the federal court lifts its injunction and allows the state to use the 2023 congressional map. Pringle said the bill only creates a pathway for that special election, and members were told the fiscal note estimates the election could cost about $4.5 million from the General Fund. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill was tied to recent federal court and Supreme Court rulings, including Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and the Purcell principle, and whether it would be too close to an election or create confusion.
Several committee members pressed Pringle on whether the bill would reduce Black representation, whether Alabama had agreed not to revisit redistricting until 2030, and whether the 2023 map had previously been found discriminatory. Pringle repeatedly said he was not offering legal advice and that the matter was pending in federal court, while also saying the bill would simply allow voters to use the legislature’s 2023 map if the courts permit it. Rep. Ford raised concerns about the cost to the General Fund and competing budget priorities, and Rep. All questioned the timing and possible administrative confusion. Pringle responded that citizens would still be able to vote for candidates of their choosing.
During the public hearing, speakers overwhelmingly opposed the bill. Jamaal Brown, Kenneth Sharpton, Eliza Jane Franklin, Pastor Richard Williams, Rep. Givan, Jacoby Bibbs, and Agnes Lover argued that the proposal would weaken Black voting power, revive a map they described as unfair or racist, and create unnecessary disruption so close to an election. Several speakers framed the issue as one of civil rights, fair representation, and trust in democracy, while others criticized the cost and said the legislature should focus on broader needs such as health care and mental health. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Senate and Governmental Affairs May 12th, 2026
Senate & Governmental Affairs
Keywords:
redistricting, congressional districts, Louisiana, 2020 census, elections, precincts, voting, election, political representation, 2026 precincts, demographics, Louisiana congressional map, U.S. House, election districts, precinct shapefiles, Voting Districts, VTD, 2020 Census, 2026 Precinct Shapefiles, apportionment
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Senate and Governmental Affairs May 8th, 2026
Senate & Governmental Affairs
Keywords:
redistricting, congressional districts, Louisiana, 2020 census, elections, precincts, voting, election, political representation, 2026 precincts, demographics, Louisiana congressional map, U.S. House, election districts, precinct shapefiles, Voting Districts, VTD, 2020 Census, 2026 Precinct Shapefiles, apportionment
TX
Keywords:
dementia, research institute, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, funding, grants, state health initiatives, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, district apportionment, legislative rules
TX
Keywords:
education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, Texas congressional redistricting, U.S. House districts, congressional map, redistricting, gerrymandering, 2020 Census, census tracts, block groups, voting districts, election law, Texas House of Representatives districts, federal congressional districts, 2026 elections
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
December 4, 2025 - 01:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Reapportionment is the process of apportioning the seats in the United States House of Representatives
- Reapportionment is the process of apportioning the seats in the United States House of Representatives
- So the reapportionment process occurs once every 10 years.
- Because both the reapportionment of seats among the states and also the redistricting process that takes
- Redistricting, in contrast, reapportionment is the redrawing of districts within a state.
Summary:
The Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting held its first meeting, established a quorum, and opened with remarks from the chair outlining the committee’s purpose and scope. The chair said the committee will focus only on congressional redistricting, will not take public comment at this introductory meeting, and may consider whether to propose a new congressional map ahead of the 2026 session. He emphasized that the work would rely on the 2020 census data, the current congressional map, and the House’s map-drawing software, and he stressed transparency, record retention, and compliance with constitutional prohibitions on drawing districts to favor or disfavor a party or incumbent.
House outside counsel Andy Bartos then gave an educational presentation on redistricting basics and legal standards. He distinguished reapportionment from redistricting, explained that Florida was apportioned 28 congressional seats after the 2020 census, and reviewed the one-person, one-vote rule, noting that congressional districts must be drawn with near-exact population equality. He also described census geography and how counties, tracts, block groups, and blocks are used to build districts, and explained that congressional redistricting follows the ordinary legislative process rather than the special process used for state legislative districts.
Bartos also covered contiguity, explaining that districts must be one connected piece and that mere point-touching is not enough, while bodies of water within a district do not necessarily break contiguity. No questions were asked after the presentation, no votes were taken, and no public testimony was heard. The meeting ended after the chair thanked attendees and said the committee would meet again the following week.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:18:00.400>
this <00:18:00.600>proposes <00:18:01.039>a reapportionment this - proposes a reapportionment this proposes a constitutional<00:18:01.679>
amendment <00:18:02.000 - should be based on the reapportionment should be based on the resident<00:18:04.960>
population - Basically, our comment is that the decennial census report for the year of the reapportionment should
- The most recent reapportionment, they went to the military.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several Judiciary-related measures. SB 94 would increase the mandatory minimum jail term for a first knowing or intentional violation of a temporary restraining order from 48 to 72 hours. The Office of the Public Defender and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence opposed the bill, arguing the current penalty is effective, the measure treats very different conduct the same, and the mental health assessment language is unclear and could be harmful or misapplied. Some other testifiers were listed in support or opposition, but no vote was taken.
SB 15 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution. The Hawaiʻi Financial Services Association offered comments rather than opposition, suggesting the bill should be clarified as applying to creditor claims rather than property taxes and possibly limited to a primary residence, with restrictions on frequency of use. Committee discussion focused on how the exemption would affect unsecured creditors, the role of recorded mortgages and judgment liens, and whether the bill should instead establish a clearer homestead-style exemption. The bill drew both support and comments, with no action taken during the hearing.
The committee also took testimony on SB 117, which would protect people making sexual misconduct claims from defamation suits unless made with malice; SB 121, a constitutional amendment to give the Senate more time to confirm judicial appointments; SB 14, a reapportionment amendment tied to the decennial census and resident population; SB 175, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges and justices from 70 to 75; SB 173, creating a three-year pilot program for free child care for minor children of parties and witnesses attending First Circuit court hearings; and SB 261, increasing juror pay from $30 to $50 per day. Testimony on these measures was generally supportive in the case of SB 175, SB 173, and SB 261, with some opposition on SB 14 and SB 117. On SB 173 and SB 261, committee members asked questions about practical implementation, and on SB 261 the State Bar Association said the increase was overdue and intended to encourage jury participation.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Special Session 2026 May 8th, 2026
Alabama House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- . >> And he was the co-chair of reapportionment after he came into the Senate, right? Okay.
- And he was the co-chair of reapportionment after he come into...
- records for mentions of Alabama, um, it came up. 2011, 2012, Hofeller wrote that the state's reapportionment
- In 2011, 2012, Hofeller wrote that the state's reapportionment committee guidelines for the legislative
- >> The attorneys for the reapportionment committee update the guidelines based on current statute at
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama Senate Education Policy Committee Apr 16th, 2025
Education Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The board currently has four seats that are based on the 1963 reapportionment Senate. on the 1963 reapportionment
- I don't understand or see the need to change this because the changes will take place through reapportionment
Keywords:
SB278, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama Released Time Credit Act, church-state separation, First Amendment, school choice, parental consent, elective course, off-campus instruction, private religious entity, State Board of Education, local board of education, attendance credit, core curriculum, religious education, Bible class
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Special Session 2026 May 7th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But instead of dealing with reapportionment, we're dealing with a special election.
- But words that instead of dealing<00:34:43.399>
with <00:34:43.919>reapportionment, <00: - 34:44.879>
we're dealing with reapportionment, we're dealing with reapportionment, we're dealing - Why are we not going through the reapportionment process? Because we're not drawing a map.
- And so, in that process, the fact that this was maps that was drawn during reapportionment, when we had
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Special Session 2026 May 6th, 2026
Alabama House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Supreme Court. >> Was that a reapportionment attorney?
- >> Yes, a reapportionment attorney filed an AI filing in the Supreme Court.
- >> It wasn't in reapportionment litigation, or was it in another?
- You're saying that we have paid reapportionment attorneys $68...
- We have paid reapportionment attorneys $68 million.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-04-29 (9:30AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- front of our courts so that we have guidance when we come back in a few years after the next reapportionment
- Why are we so pressed on premature reapportionment instead of passing an already delayed budget?
- Why are we so pressed on premature reapportionment instead of passing an already delayed budget?
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, we're going to take up the presentation on the congressional reapportionment by the Governor's
- Reapportionment by the Governor's Office.
- That's the legislative reapportionment.
- A, the governor has no role, and B, that provision had Of legislative reapportionment.
- to ensure that Florida receives seats in accordance with this population in the next round of reapportionment
Summary:
The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and heard a Governor’s Office presentation on a proposed congressional reapportionment map. The governor’s counsel argued that mid-cycle congressional redistricting is legally permissible, that race should not be considered at all in drawing districts, and that the Florida Fair Districts provisions are inconsistent with federal equal protection law and should be treated as non-severable. The presentation also discussed the pending U.S. Supreme Court case Louisiana v. Callais and the Florida Supreme Court’s Black Voters Matter decision as part of the legal rationale for the map.
Jason Parada, who said he drew the map alone, described the map as based on 2020 census block data, with county-level population estimates used only as a guide to identify faster-growing areas. He said the plan keeps 48 counties and 382 municipalities whole, has compactness scores similar to the current benchmark map, and uses traditional geographic and political boundaries such as roads, railways, county lines, and municipal lines. He walked through regional changes, emphasizing a race-neutral redesign that significantly altered South Florida, including changes to districts in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and the Everglades, while leaving several northern districts largely unchanged.
Members questioned the witnesses extensively about the legal theory, the use of partisan data, the role of race, population growth, and the timing and review of the map. The witnesses said partisan data was considered along with other traditional redistricting criteria, but race was not used. They also said they could not speak to who else reviewed the map beyond EOG staff and counsel. Several senators raised concerns about the map’s compactness, county and city splits, the apparent partisan effects, and the fact that the map was released shortly before the special session. No vote or final action on the map was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, we're going to take up tab for the presentation on the congressional reapportionment by the Governor's
- That's the legislative reapportionment.
- to ensure that Florida receives seats in accordance with this population in the next round of reapportionment
- Yes, I believe it is. of legislative reapportionment.
- to ensure that Florida receives seats in accordance with this population in the next round of reapportionment
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
April 28, 2026 - 12:05 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Florida Constitution is very specific that the governor has no role when it comes to legislative reapportionment
- It almost seems to me that this is more about a reapportionment of the state than redistricting. sponsor
- It almost seems to me that this is more about a reapportionment of the state than redistricting.
- It seems to me that this is more about a reapportionment of the state than redistricting.
Summary:
The Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting met to consider HB 1D, which would establish Florida’s congressional districts using the governor’s proposed map, EOG PCRP 26. Representative Persons-Mulicka briefly introduced the bill, and Jason Jazeel and Jason Pareda of the governor’s office presented the legal rationale and map details. Jazeel argued that mid-cycle congressional redistricting is not prohibited, that the governor’s position is to draw districts without considering race, and that federal equal-protection principles should control over state race-based redistricting provisions. Pareda said he drew the map alone using 2020 census data and census blocks, while also considering population growth estimates, traditional redistricting criteria, and county/city boundaries where feasible.
Pareda described the map as race-neutral and said it keeps 48 counties whole, 382 cities whole, and has a boundary-analysis score of about 85.7%. He walked through regional changes, including major revisions in South Florida, adjustments in Central Florida, and changes in the Tampa Bay area, explaining that population shifts and the need for exact congressional population equality drove many of the district configurations. Members questioned the timing of the special session, the use of 2020 census data versus newer population estimates, the role of the legislature versus the governor, the legal basis for mid-decade redistricting, and whether the map complies with the Voting Rights Act and Fair Districts amendments. Motions to place witnesses under oath and to extend the committee meeting by 30 minutes both failed.
During public testimony, every speaker who was heard opposed the map. Commenters argued that the proposal was a partisan power grab, would reduce Democratic and minority representation, and violated the Florida Constitution and voting rights protections. Several speakers criticized the short notice and lack of public input, while others said the map would confuse voters or split communities. The chair repeatedly reminded attendees to maintain decorum and limited each speaker to about one minute.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Press Conference: Senator Mayes Middleton Aug 4th, 2025
Texas Senate Floor Meeting
Keywords:
real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap
TX
Keywords:
real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- proposing amendments to Article 4, Sections 4 and 6 of the Hawaii State Constitution regarding reapportionment
- Hawaii state constitution six of the Hawaii state constitution regarding regarding regarding reapportionment
- 50.720>
Article <00:41:51.040>4 <00:41:51.960>I'm <00:41:52.119>sorry reapportionment - Article 4 I'm sorry reapportionment Article 4 I'm sorry article<00:41:52.960>
four <00:41:53.359
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- members of the municipal governing body do not need to be subject to a new election following reapportionment
- members of the municipal governing body do not need to be subject to a new election following reapportionment
Bills:
HB103
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Local Government heard a series of local and special-purpose bills, mostly with brief sponsor explanations and little or no public opposition. Topics included fireworks sales near the Texas-Mexico border for Cinco de Mayo (HB 1629), allowing larger counties to use their own inspectors for county buildings (HB 3234), updating governance and financial rules for the Wood County Central Hospital District (HB 5664), clarifying firefighter collective bargaining and impasse procedures (HB 3171), and exempting certain Fort Worth ETJ properties from release rules to protect infrastructure investments (HB 2512). The committee also heard bills on border subdivision rules in Cameron County (HB 3680), extending a property tax exemption to surviving spouses of certain veterans affected by the PACT Act (HB 2508/HJR 133), drainage district election timing and procedures (HB 5693, HB 2694), utility transparency for municipally owned systems (HB 1991), and management district and hospital district election or appointment changes (HB 5698, HB 2293). Another major bill, HB 1449, would expand a food truck permitting pilot program to counties over one million population; witnesses supported the concept but asked the committee to coordinate it with related fee and standards bills, and the bill was left pending for further work. The committee also heard HB 3732, which would let fire departments obtain extensions to comply with new NFPA protective equipment standards, and HB 5431, which would clarify that mayors and at-large council members do not need new elections after reapportionment; both were left pending after questions about their scope. Several transparency and tax-related bills were also discussed, including HB 103, creating a statewide database of local bond and tax election information, and HB 851, requiring reporting on homestead tax ceiling properties; both drew support and were later voted out. After testimony, the committee reported multiple bills favorably, often unanimously, and recommended many for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also used procedural swaps to substitute House companions for Senate bills on several measures, then recessed with plans to return later to process additional bills.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
House in Special Session D Apr 29th, 2026
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- front of our courts so that we have guidance when we come back in a few years after the next reapportionment
- Why are we so pressed on premature reapportionment instead of passing an already delayed budget?
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former member Mark Weissman and local officials Donna Lou Fiala and Eric C. Brecknitz, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members approved the journal and adopted the Rules and Ethics Committee’s special order report setting the calendar and debate times for the day. The chamber then took up House Bill 1D, establishing Florida’s congressional districts, as the main item on the special order calendar.
During questioning and debate on HB 1D, sponsors and opponents focused heavily on the map’s process and legality. Supporters argued the plan was based on a viable legal theory, used the 2020 census data as required, and was within the Legislature’s discretion to consider mid-cycle redistricting. Opponents repeatedly argued the map was drawn by the governor’s office using partisan data, without meaningful legislative or public input, and that it violated the Fair Districts Amendment by favoring a party, splitting more counties and municipalities, and reducing compactness. Several members also raised concerns about taxpayer costs, the absence of a new census or court order, and the Legislature’s role versus the governor’s office.
After structured debate, the House voted on final passage of HB 1D and passed it 83-28. A motion to recess for two hours to consider a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision failed. Following passage of the redistricting bill, the House adopted a motion to adjourn sine die, ending the session.