Bill > ACR243

This Concurrent Resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to change the membership and process of the Apportionment Commission, which is responsible for drawing legislative districts in New Jersey after each decennial U.S. census. The amendment would increase the commission's size from 10 to 11 members, with the eleventh member being appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and would alter how the other ten members are appointed, shifting some appointments from party chairs to legislative leaders. Crucially, it mandates a more public and transparent process, requiring at least three public hearings, a dedicated website for public input and information, and public comment opportunities at the final certification meeting. Furthermore, the amendment establishes new standards for district composition, requiring that districts be drawn to ensure fair representation by creating an equal number of districts more favorable to each of the two major political parties, mandating that at least 25% of districts be competitive (meaning they favor one party by no more than five percentage points), and prioritizing the preservation of "communities of interest" – groups of people with shared interests relevant to the legislative process. These new standards would supersede all other considerations, except for compliance with federal law, contiguity, and the constitutional limits on dividing municipalities.