Texas lawmakers will hear testimony Thursday on new congressional districts for 2012.
The state will add four new congressional seats next year because of rapid population growth, giving Texas 36 seats in the U.S. House.
Republican lawmakers will hear testimony on a proposed map that appears to ensure the GOP will continue to dominate the Texas congressional delegation. But critics say the proposal discriminates against minorities who make up more than 87 percent of the population growth in Texas.
Latino groups want at least two of the new seats to go to Latino communities. A Democratic proposal would have two seats go to Latino communities and one to an African-American community.
Any Texas congressional map must be approved by federal authorities and will almost certainly end in a lawsuit.
