No. HJR 619
State Reapportionment ; Proposes amendment to State Constitution to revise reapportionment methods and revise upward the number of Senate and House districts.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThree new independent redistricting commissions, one each for the Senate, House and congressional maps, would take over drawing district lines. Legislative leaders appoint a screening panel that vets applicants and randomly seats commissioners from three political categories.
The Legislature no longer drafts maps itself. It must adopt one of three commission-drawn maps by majority vote, or amend one with a three-quarters vote in each chamber, by a fixed deadline.
The ballot measure also raises the constitutional ceiling on legislative districts, letting the state create up to 60 Senate districts instead of 40, and up to 180 House districts instead of 120.
Commission meetings, records and internal communications become public, and members may discuss reapportionment with outsiders only at public meetings. If the Supreme Court voids a map, the commissions, not the Legislature, redraw it.
AIInstead of the Legislature drawing its own maps, three new independent redistricting commissions -- one each for Senate, House, and congressional districts -- are created to do the reapportionment work after each census.
AIThe Legislature's role shrinks to adopting one of the three commission-drawn maps by majority vote, or amending one with a three-quarters vote in each chamber, within a fixed deadline; after that window it has no further role.
AIThe constitutional cap on the number of state Senate districts rises from 40 to 60, and the cap on House districts rises from 120 to 180, letting future maps carve the state into far more, smaller districts.
AIAnyone currently or previously elected to office is permanently barred from serving as a commissioner, as is anyone who was a party officer, registered lobbyist, or paid campaign staffer in the past 14 years, or a legislative employee in the past 18.
AIA final map needs approval from two-thirds of a commission's members, and that approving group must include at least two commissioners registered as independent or with a minor party, so the two largest parties cannot adopt a map using only their own members.
AIAll commission records, internal communications, and communications made to the commission become public record, and commissioners, staff and consultants may discuss reapportionment with outsiders only in a public meeting or hearing.
AIIf the Supreme Court finds a commission's map unlawful or unconstitutional, the Governor reconvenes the independent commissions -- not the Legislature -- to propose a fix, replacing the old process of a special legislative session.
AIA Supreme Court justice with a close family relationship to a member of Congress or the Legislature -- including in-laws and cohabitating household members -- has a conflict of interest and cannot take part in an apportionment case.