Bill > HJR135

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the Texas Redistricting Commission, a new independent body responsible for drawing legislative and congressional district maps in Texas. The commission would consist of seven members, including four initially appointed by senior legislators from different parties, one additional member selected by those four, and two retired federal judges from different political parties. Commission members must be Texas residents with analytical skills and impartiality, and they are prohibited from holding political office, working for political campaigns, or having close relationships with elected officials. The commission would be required to follow specific redistricting criteria, prioritizing federal voting rights protections, avoiding discrimination, maintaining contiguous districts, respecting community boundaries, and minimizing the division of political subdivisions. The commission would convene every decade after the federal census to create new district maps, with a deadline of July 1 in the year ending in 1, and would be required to provide public transparency and opportunities for public comment. The amendment would take effect in January 2031, at which point the existing Legislative Redistricting Board would be abolished. Voters would have the opportunity to approve this constitutional change in a November 2025 election.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HJR135