Bill > HJR26

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to establish an Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission (ICRC) that would replace the current legislative redistricting process in Texas. The commission would consist of 14 members: five from the majority party, five from the minority party, and four independent members, selected based on their voting history and political neutrality. The commission would be responsible for redrawing district boundaries for the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives, and State Board of Education following each decennial census. The redistricting process would prioritize compliance with the U.S. Constitution, population equality, the Voting Rights Act, geographic contiguity, and preserving the integrity of communities of interest. Critically, the commission is prohibited from considering the residence of incumbents or political candidates and cannot draw districts to favor or discriminate against any political party. The proposed amendment includes strict ethics rules, preventing commission members from holding political offices or working as lobbyists for 5-10 years after their appointment. If the commission fails to approve final maps, the Texas Supreme Court would appoint special masters to complete the redistricting. The amendment is set to take effect gradually, with full implementation by January 1, 2031, and is scheduled to be voted on by Texas voters in a May 2, 2026 election.

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=892&Bill=HJR26