This session the state legislature will take up redistricting, as it does every 10 years. Redistricting is the process by which the boundaries of congressional districts for the U.S. House of Representatives are redrawn to ensure that each congressman represents an equal population. This week I will discuss the redistricting process, and how it will affect Texas.

Redistricting coincides with the U.S. census, which is conducted at the end of each decade. After the data from the census is compiled, the U.S. government reapportions the number of congressmen to each state according to that state's population. Since 1912, the number of U.S. Representatives has been prescribed by law at 435. This means that the entire population of the United States is divided by 435 to represent everyone equally. Each state gets a certain number of representatives according to its population; Texas currently has 32 congressman. Because the population of Texas has grown faster than that of most states, it is estimates that Texas will pick up another 3-4 congressman during the reapportionment process.

As Texas has grown faster than most of the nation, certain areas of the state have grown faster than others during the last ten years. As a result of the changes in population, as well as the increase in the number of congressional seats, the boundaries of the existing congressional districts must be redrawn to ensure that the people are equally represented. In addition to congressional districts, the districts of state representatives and senators are also subject to redistricting.

Redistricting is a challenging process, and the legislature is already preparing for it although we do not meet until January. The House Committee on Redistricting is holding joint hearings across the state with the House Committee on Judiciary and Jurisprudence to get public input on redistricting. Next week there will be three hearings in the south Texas region: McAllen, Laredo, and Corpus Christi. There will be three hearings held in the metroplex sometime in September; the specific locations and dates have not yet been decided. Once these hearings are posted, I will provide an update in a Capitol Watch column.

For more information redistricting or any other matter of state government, please contact my office by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by emailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us. My district office phone number is (903) 891-7297.