*SJ9613*
Introduced Version
SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION No. 14
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOL UTION
Citations Affected: Article 2 and Article 4 of the Constitution of the
State of Indiana.
Synopsis: Redistricting standards. Establishes standards for drawing
Indiana congressional districts and Indiana legislative districts.
Effective: This proposed amendment must be agreed to by two
consecutive general assemblies and ratified by a majority of the state's
voters voting on the question to be effective.
Qaddoura
January 10, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Elections.
20231937
2023 SJ 14—SJ 9613/DI 75 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2023)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word
NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a
new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION No. 14
A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Article 2
and Article 4 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana concerning the
general assembly.
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of the
2 State of Indiana is proposed and agreed to by this, the One Hundred
3 Twenty-Third General Assembly of the State of Indiana, and is referred
4 to the next General Assembly for reconsideration and agreement.
5 SECTION 2. ARTICLE 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
6 STATE OF INDIANA IS AMENDED BY ADDING A NEW
7 SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS: Section 15. (a) The following
8 apply to a redistricting plan for Indiana congressional districts:
9 (1) A redistricting plan and any individual district may not be
10 drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or
11 an incumbent.
12 (2) A redistricting plan and any individual district may not be
2023 SJ 14—SJ 9613/DI 75 2
1 drawn with the intent or result of denying or abridging the
2 equal opportunity of racial or language minorities to
3 participate in the political process or to diminish their ability
4 to elect representatives of their choice.
5 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
6 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
7 standards stated in this subsection.
8 (b) Each of the following apply to the districts of a redistricting
9 plan for Indiana congressional districts:
10 (1) The territory in each district must be contiguous.
11 (2) The districts of a plan must be as nearly equal in
12 population as is practicable.
13 (3) The districts of a plan must, where feasible, utilize existing
14 political and geographical boundaries.
15 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
16 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
17 standards stated in this subsection.
18 SECTION 3. ARTICLE 4, SECTION 5 OF THE CONSTITUTION
19 OF THE STATE OF INDIANA IS AMENDED TO READ AS
20 FOLLOWS: Section 5. (a) The General Assembly elected during the
21 year in which a federal decennial census is taken shall fix by law the
22 number of Senators and Representatives and apportion them among
23 districts according to the number of inhabitants in each district, as
24 revealed by that federal decennial census.
25 (b) The following apply to a redistricting plan for senate
26 districts and to a redistricting plan for house of representative
27 districts:
28 (1) A redistricting plan and any individual district may not be
29 drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or
30 an incumbent.
31 (2) A redistricting plan and any individual district may not be
32 drawn with the intent or result of denying or abridging the
33 equal opportunity of racial or language minorities to
34 participate in the political process or to diminish their ability
35 to elect representatives of their choice.
36 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
37 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
38 standards stated in this subsection.
39 (c) Each of the following apply to the districts of a redistricting
40 plan for senate districts and to the districts of a redistricting plan
41 for house of representative districts:
42 (1) The territory in each district shall must be contiguous.
2023 SJ 14—SJ 9613/DI 75 3
1 (2) The districts of a plan must be as nearly equal in
2 population as is practicable.
3 (3) The districts of a plan must, where feasible, utilize existing
4 political and geographical boundaries.
5 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
6 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
7 standards stated in this subsection.
2023 SJ 14—SJ 9613/DI 75