Bill > SJR2

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Arkansas Apportionment Commission, a new nine-member body responsible for redrawing legislative and congressional districts following each federal decennial census. The commission will be composed of three members appointed by the Governor, three by the Secretary of State, and three by the Attorney General, with specific requirements for members' professional backgrounds, including expertise in mathematics, law, and cartography. The commission will be tasked with creating districts for the Arkansas House of Representatives (100 members), the Arkansas Senate (35 members), and the state's United States House of Representatives districts, with a mandate to prioritize population equality, comply with federal civil rights laws, and maintain contiguity while avoiding unnecessary divisions of counties, cities, and school districts. The Board of Apportionment, consisting of the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General, will have the power to approve or reject the commission's proposed district maps, with a provision that if the board rejects the maps three times, the Supreme Court will perform the apportionment. The amendment includes detailed provisions about the commission's operations, public input process, and restrictions on considering political factors during district mapping, and is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Government Affairs

https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sjr2&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R