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HLS 26RS-939 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 369
BY REPRESENTATIVE LYONS
REAPPORTIONMENT/JUDGES: Provides for the election of judges of the first district of
the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 13:312(5)(b)(i) and 312.1(E)(2), relative to the Fifth Circuit
3 Court of Appeal; to provide for the election of judges from the first district of the
4 Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal; to provide for election sections; to provide for the
5 filling of vacancies; to provide for the assignment of judgeships for election
6 purposes; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 13:312(5)(b)(i) and 312.1(E)(2) are hereby amended and reenacted
9 to read as follows:
10 §312. Courts of appeal; circuits and districts
11 There shall be five court of appeal circuits, which shall be subdivided into
12 districts as follows:
13 * * *
14 5.
15 * * *
16 (b) Districts of the fifth circuit.
17 (i) The parish of Jefferson shall compose the first district of the fifth circuit.
18 The first district shall be further divided into two three election sections. Election
19 section one shall consist of Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
20 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39,
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HLS 26RS-939 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 369
1 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66,
2 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89,
3 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 116, 117,
4 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134,
5 136, 138, 152, 155, 157A, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179-A, 182, 183,
6 184, 185A, 185B, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197A, 197B, 197C, 198,
7 199, 202, 203, 204, 205, 210, 211, 212A, 212B, 213A, 213B, 213C, 214A, 214B,
8 215, 216, 217, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238,
9 246, 247, 248, 249, 1-G, 2-G, 3-G, 4-G, 5-G, 6-G, 7-G, 8-G, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G, 1-GI,
10 1-H, 2-H, 3-H, 4-H, 5-H, 6-H, 7-H, 8-H, 9-H, 13-KA, 1-K, 2-K, 3-K, 4-K, 5-K, 6-K,
11 7-K, 8-K, 9-K, 10-K, 11-K, 12-K, 14-K, 15-K, 16-K, 17-K,18-K, 19-K, 20-K, 25-K,
12 27-K, 28-K, 29-K, 30-K, 34-K, 35-K, 1-L, 1-W, 3-W, 4-W, 5-W, 6-W, and 7-W of
13 Jefferson Parish. Election section two shall consist of Precincts 104, 108, 115, 150,
14 151, 153, 154,156, 157B, 179B, 180, 181, 187, 188, 200, 201, 13-KB, 21-K, 22-K,
15 23-K, 24-K, 26-K, 31-K, 33-K, 173 and 2-W.
16 (aa) Election section one is composed of Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10,
17 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,
18 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60,
19 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84,
20 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106,
21 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125A, 125B, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130,
22 131, 132, 133, 134, 136, 138, 152, 155, 157A, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 177,
23 178, 179A, 182, 183, 185A, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193A, 193B, 198, 199, 202, 203,
24 210, 211, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232A, 232B, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238A,
25 238B, 246, 247, 248, 1-G, 2-G, 3-G, 4-G, 5-G, 6-G, 7-G, 8-G, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G,
26 12-G, 13-G, 1-GI, 1-H, 2-H, 3-H, 4-H, 6-H, 7-H, 8-H, 9-H, 1-K, 2-K, 3-K, 4-K, 5-K,
27 6-KA, 6-KB, 7-KA, 7-KB, 8-K, 9-K, 10-K, 11-K, 12-K, 13-KA, 14-K, 15-K, 16-K,
28 17-K, 19-K, 20-K, 25-K, 27-K, 28-K, 29-K, 30-K, 34-K, 35-K, 1-L, 1-W, 3-W, 4-W,
29 5-W, 6-W, and 7-W of Jefferson Parish.
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are additions.
HLS 26RS-939 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 369
1 (bb) Election section two is composed of Precincts 104, 108, 115, 150A,
2 150B, 151, 153, 154, 156, 173, 179B, 180, 181, 187, 188, 200, 201, 13-KB, 21-K,
3 22-K, 23-K, 24-K, 26-K, 31-K, and 33-K of Jefferson Parish.
4 (cc) Election section three is composed of Precincts 184, 185B, 194A, 194B,
5 195, 196, 197A, 197B, 204, 205, 212, 213A, 213B, 213C, 214A, 214B, 215, 216A,
6 216B, and 217 of Jefferson Parish.
7 * * *
8 §312.1. Circuit court of appeal; domicile; number of judges; election
9 * * *
10 E.
11 * * *
12 (2)(a) Six judges shall be elected from the first district of the fifth circuit by
13 the qualified electors thereof in the manner provided for in this Paragraph.
14 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph:
15 (i) (a) The first vacancy created by the death, resignation, retirement, or
16 removal of a judge of the first district who was elected by the qualified electors of
17 election section one occurring after August 15, 2007, the effective date of the Act
18 that originated as House Bill No. of the 2026 Regular Session of the Legislature
19 shall be filled by election from election section two three of the first district and such
20 judgeship shall be assigned to election section two three of the first district for
21 election purposes thereafter. However, if no election has occurred or is scheduled
22 to occur to fill a vacancy in such a judgeship from election section two three prior
23 to the opening of qualifying for the regular statewide elections in 2012 2030, the
24 regular election to fill the judgeship designated as Division G B of the first district
25 shall be held in election section two three of the first district and such division shall
26 be assigned to election section two three for election purposes thereafter.
27 (ii) (b) At the time a judgeship is assigned to election section two three, the
28 remaining five four judgeships in the first district shall be assigned to election
29 section one for election purposes thereafter.
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HLS 26RS-939 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 369
1 (c) One judgeship shall be assigned to election section two.
2 * * *
3 Section 2.(A) The precincts referenced in this Act are those contained in the file
4 named "2026 Precinct Shapefiles (1-27-2026)" available on the website of the Legislature
5 of Louisiana on the effective date of this Section. The 2026 Precinct Shapefiles are based
6 upon those Voting Districts (VTDs) contained in the 2020 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line
7 Shapefiles for the State of Louisiana as those files have been modified and validated through
8 the data verification program of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana
9 Senate to represent precinct changes submitted through January 27, 2026, to the Legislature
10 of Louisiana by parish governing authorities pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 18:532 and
11 532.1.
12 (B) When a precinct referenced in this Act has been subdivided by action of the
13 parish governing authority on a nongeographic basis or subdivided by action of the parish
14 governing authority on a geographic basis in accordance with the provisions of R.S.
15 18:532.1, the enumeration in this Act of the general precinct designation shall include all
16 nongeographic and all geographic subdivisions thereof, however such subdivisions may be
17 designated.
18 (C) The territorial limits of the districts as provided in this Act shall continue in
19 effect until changed by law regardless of any subsequent change made to the precincts by
20 the parish governing authority.
21 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
22 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
23 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
24 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
25 effective on the day following such approval.
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are additions.
HLS 26RS-939 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 369
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 369 Original 2026 Regular Session Lyons
Abstract: Provides for an additional election section in the first district of the Fifth Circuit
Court of Appeals. Effective upon the signature of the governor for all purposes.
Statistical summaries of proposed law including maps illustrating proposed district
boundaries accompany this digest. (Attached to the bill version on the internet.)
Present law provides for the composition of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Provides that
the parishes of Jefferson, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist shall compose the
fifth circuit. Further provides that the parish of Jefferson shall compose the first district of
the fifth circuit. The parish of St. James and that portion of St. John the Baptist Parish east
of the Mississippi River shall compose the second district of the fifth circuit. The parish of
St. Charles and that portion of St. John the Baptist Parish west of the Mississippi River shall
compose the third district of the fifth circuit.
Present law provides that the fifth circuit shall be composed of eight judges. Provides that
six judges shall be elected from the first district of the fifth circuit by the qualified electors
thereof. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides further that the first district of the fifth circuit shall be divided into two
election sections and provides that five judges are assigned to election section one and one
judge is assigned to election section two.
Proposed law instead provides that the first district shall be divided into three election
sections. Further provides that four judges are assigned to election section one, one judge
is assigned to election section two, and one judge is assigned to election section three.
Proposed law provides the first vacancy created by the death, resignation, retirement, or
removal of a judge of the first district who was elected by the qualified electors of election
section one shall be filled by election from election section three and such judgeship shall
be assigned to election section three for election purposes thereafter. However, if no election
has occurred or is scheduled to occur to fill a vacancy in such judgeship from election
section three prior to the opening of qualifying for the regular statewide deletion in 2030,
the regular election to fill the judgeship designated as Division B of the first district shall be
held in election section three of the first district and such division shall be assigned to
election section three for election purposes thereafter.
Proposed law specifies that precincts referenced in district descriptions are those precinct
identified as Voting Districts (VTDs) in the 2020 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line
Shapefiles for the state of La. as validated through the data verification program of the La.
legislature. Also specifies that if any such precinct has been subdivided by action of the
parish governing authority on a nongeographic basis or subdivided by action of the parish
governing authority on a geographic basis in accordance with present law, the enumeration
of the general precinct designation shall include all nongeographic and all geographic
subdivisions thereof. Further provides that the territorial limits of the districts as enacted
shall continue in effect without change regardless of any subsequent change made to the
precincts by the parish governing authority.
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are additions.
HLS 26RS-939 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 369
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 13:312(5)(b)(i) and 312.1(E)(2))
Page 6 of 6
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are additions.
354,017ElectionSection1 4 293,852 60,165 20.475%
41,708ElectionSection2 1 73,463 -31,755 -43.226%
45,056ElectionSection3 1 73,463 -28,407 -38.668%
Plan: HLS 26RS-939 (Lyons)
Plan Statistics
Districts: Relative DeviationAbsolute Deviation# of Members Actual Population Ideal Population
Grand Total: 6 440,781 440,778
Ideal Population Per Member:
Number of Districts for Plan Type:
Absolute Mean Deviation:
Range of District Populations:
Absolute Overall Range:
Absolute Range:
Relative Overall Range:
Relative Range:
Relative Mean Deviation:
Ideal - Actual:
Unassigned Population:
Remainder:
73463
3
41,708
30,640
-31,755
91,920
34.12%
-43.23%
63.70%
to
to
to
354,017
60,165
20.47%
-3
3
0
ElectionSection1 71,126 18,517 6,772 53,509354,017 204,093 67,159 279,820 38,2865,15514,22651,792170,361 47,371
20.091% 5.231% 1.913% 15.115%100.000% 57.651% 18.971% 100.000% 18.509%60.882% 5.084% 1.842% 13.682% 16.929%
ElectionSection2 30,103 695 418 5,00541,708 5,487 6,340 30,802 3,39929953322,1404,431 4,252
72.176% 1.666% 1.002% 12.000%100.000% 13.156% 15.201% 100.000% 71.878%14.385% 1.730% 0.971% 11.035% 13.804%
ElectionSection3 24,988 3,812 496 4,40545,056 11,355 5,558 34,032 3,1323812,93318,2439,343 3,861
55.460% 8.461% 1.101% 9.777%100.000% 25.202% 12.336% 100.000% 53.605%27.454% 8.618% 1.120% 9.203% 11.345%
Plan: HLS 26RS-939 (Lyons)
Total Population
Total
Population VAP Total
Total
Hispanic
Total
Other
Total
American
Indian
Total
Asian
Total
White
Total
Black VAP White VAP Black VAP Asian
VAP
American
Indian VAP Other
VAP
Hispanic
Total
Grand Total 126,217 23,024 7,686 62,919440,781 220,935 79,057 344,654 44,8175,83517,69292,175184,135 55,484
28.635% 5.223% 1.744% 14.274%100.000% 50.124% 17.936% 100.000% 13.003%1.693%5.133%26.744%53.426% 16.098%
ElectionSection1 28,652 26,180 53,743 71,848183,373 128,541 57,782
15.625% 14.277% 29.308% 39.181%65.532% 70.098% 31.511%
ElectionSection2 16,176 1,716 13,645 1,59920,441 2,549 5,197
79.135% 8.395% 66.753% 7.823%66.363% 12.470% 25.424%
ElectionSection3 12,989 3,677 12,434 4,09523,005 6,339 6,476
56.462% 15.983% 54.049% 17.800%67.598% 27.555% 28.150%
Plan: HLS 26RS-939 (Lyons)
Voter Registration
Reg Total
Dec 2025
Reg Other
Total
Dec 2025
Reg Rep
Total
Dec 2025
Reg Dem
Total
Dec 2025
Reg Other
Dec 2025
Reg White
Dec 2025
Reg Black
Dec 2025
Grand Total 57,817 31,573 79,822 77,542226,819 137,429 69,455
ElectionSection1
*Jefferson 71,126 18,517 6,772 53,509354,017 204,093 279,820 170,361 183,37338,2865,15514,22651,792 28,652128,541 26,180
ElectionSection1 71,126 18,517 6,772 53,509354,017 204,093 279,820 170,361 183,37338,2865,15514,22651,792 128,541 28,652 26,180
20.091% 5.231% 1.913% 15.115%100.000% 57.651% 100.000% 60.882% 65.532%13.682%1.842%5.084%18.509% 70.098% 15.625% 14.277%
ElectionSection2
*Jefferson 30,103 695 418 5,00541,708 5,487 30,802 4,431 20,4413,39929953322,140 16,1762,549 1,716
ElectionSection2 30,103 695 418 5,00541,708 5,487 30,802 4,431 20,4413,39929953322,140 2,549 16,176 1,716
72.176% 1.666% 1.002% 12.000%100.000% 13.156% 100.000% 14.385% 66.363%11.035%0.971%1.730%71.878% 12.470% 79.135% 8.395%
ElectionSection3
*Jefferson 24,988 3,812 496 4,40545,056 11,355 34,032 9,343 23,0053,1323812,93318,243 12,9896,339 3,677
ElectionSection3 24,988 3,812 496 4,40545,056 11,355 34,032 9,343 23,0053,1323812,93318,243 6,339 12,989 3,677
55.460% 8.461% 1.101% 9.777%100.000% 25.202% 100.000% 27.454% 67.598%9.203%1.120%8.618%53.605% 27.555% 56.462% 15.983%
Plan: HLS 26RS-939 (Lyons)
Splits
Total
Population VAP WhiteVAP Total
Total
Other
Total
American
Indian
Total
Asian
Total
White
Total
Black VAP Black VAP Asian
VAP
American
Indian VAP Other
Reg Total
Dec 2025
Reg White
Dec 2025
Reg Black
Dec 2025
Reg Other
Dec 2025
L a f o u r c h eL a f o u r c h e
P l a q u e m i n e sP l a q u e m i n e s
J e f f e r s o nJ e f f e r s o n
O r l e a n sO r l e a n s
S t . C h a r l e sS t . C h a r l e s S t . B e r n a r dS t . B e r n a r d
Te r r e b o n n eTe r r e b o n n e
S t . J o h n t h e B a p t i s tS t . J o h n t h e B a p t i s t
8-2
51
248
10-8
1-3
4-2
1-2
10-6
10-4
8-1
57
1-1
10-1
7-110-2
55
9-45
ZZZZZZ
2-5
5-5
ZZZZZZ
7-2
50
247
199
8-1
63
9-45A
10-11
11-1
4-6
9-2
ZZZZZZ
151
6-2
156
4-1
6-4
4-4
41
1-3
5-4
9-32
2-1
10-13
10-10
53
188
1-2
1-L
ZZZZZZ
33
2-6
246
2-4
ZZZZZZ
15-19A
3-1 12
4-3
52
22
10-9
170
150A
10-3
2-3
!1
!2
!3
Map Layers
Parishes
VTDs
Districts
HLS 26RS-939 (Lyons) first district of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal
2/19/2026 9:38:31 AM
J e f f e r s o nJ e f f e r s o n
O r l e a n sO r l e a n s
S t . C h a r l e sS t . C h a r l e s
P l a q u e m i n e sP l a q u e m i n e s
S t . B e r n a r dS t . B e r n a r d
4-2
199
ZZZZZZ
8-1
ZZZZZZ
151
156
247
2-5
248
1-2
188
5-5
5-1A
1-L
6-1197A
246
1-1
9-32
5-1
6-2
170
150A
194B 4-1
157A
2-4
203
152
125B
ZZZZZZ
26-K
5-16
13
171
2-1
153
12
11
9-28
124
3-1
9
136
1-W
184
3
3-1
23-K 58
211
196
1
3-8
51
9-42
31-K
9-6
217
24
214B
1-1
189
6-W
57
198
7-H
126
182
23
60
5
15-15
29
234
13-1
25-K
71
7
201
2-G
204
68
9-31D
103
9-3344
52 4-9
8-H
237
9-H
1-K
13
18
2-1
172
30
11 31
190
72
9-9
8
59 33
78
34
98
179A
17-K 39
45
!1
!2
!3
Map Layers
Parishes
VTDs
Districts
HLS 26RS-939 (Lyons) first district of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal
2/19/2026 10:00:45 AM