A new state commission would draw your district lines if voters approve a constitutional amendment
What it does
HB 162 would create a Texas Redistricting Commission with nine members to draw districts for the United States House, the Texas House, and the Texas Senate. Eight members would be appointed by the legislature in a bipartisan way, and those eight would pick a ninth member from independent applicants to serve as a presiding officer who votes only to break a tie on a final map. A final plan would need five votes, and if the commission does not adopt one by November 15 in the year after the census, the Texas Supreme Court would have to draw one by December 30. The bill would take effect January 1, 2030, but only if voters approve a related constitutional amendment; if they do not, the bill would have no effect.
What it means for your community
Your state representative, your state senator, and your member of Congress would come from districts drawn by this commission. The bill requires at least one member chosen by each chamber of the legislature to live in a county that is not part of a metro area. Each map would have to keep districts next to each other and close to equal in population, and the secretary of state would publish a report with population figures, maps, and spending. If the constitutional amendment fails, none of this changes, because the bill would have no effect.
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