Bill > SB104

This bill proposes to amend the Maryland Constitution to establish a new process for drawing legislative and congressional districts, aiming to ensure fairness and prevent gerrymandering. It creates an independent Legislative and Congressional Redistricting and Apportionment Commission, composed of ten members, to draw these districts based on specific criteria such as respecting natural boundaries, geographic continuity, and communities of common interest, while explicitly prohibiting consideration of voter registration, past voting history, or political party affiliation. The bill outlines a detailed process for the commission to submit its proposed district plans to the General Assembly, which must then approve them with a three-fifths vote in each house, potentially requiring a special legislative session. If the General Assembly fails to pass a plan or the Governor vetoes it, the Supreme Court of Maryland would have original jurisdiction to establish the districts. The bill also modifies the duties of the Attorney General to exclude them from certain redistricting-related legal proceedings and sets forth the criteria for legislative and congressional districts, including population equality with a maximum deviation of 2%.

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0104?ys=2026RS