*SJ9612*
Introduced Version
SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION No. _____
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOL UTION
Citations Affected: Articles 2 and 4 of the Constitution of the State
of Indiana.
Synopsis: Election of state and federal legislators. Repeals the
constitutional provision for drawing legislative districts by the general
assembly. Requires the general assembly to establish an independent
redistricting commission to draw congressional and legislative districts.
Establishes standards for drawing Indiana congressional districts and
Indiana legislative districts. Establishes term limits for members of the
general assembly. This proposed amendment has not been previously
agreed to by a general assembly.
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
_______________________, read first time and referred to Committee on
20241199
2024 SJ 9612/DI 144 Introduced
Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
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 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION
A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Articles 2
and 4 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana concerning elections.
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
13 drawn with the intent or result of denying or abridging the
2024 SJ 9612/DI 144 2
1 equal opportunity of racial or language minorities to
2 participate in the political process or to diminish their ability
3 to elect representatives of their choice.
4 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
5 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
6 standards stated in this subsection.
7 (b) Each of the following apply to the districts of a redistricting
8 plan for Indiana congressional districts:
9 (1) The territory in each district must be contiguous.
10 (2) The districts of a redistricting plan must be as nearly equal
11 in population as is practicable.
12 (3) The districts of a redistricting plan must, where feasible,
13 utilize existing political and geographical boundaries.
14 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
15 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
16 standards stated in this subsection.
17 SECTION 3. ARTICLE 4, SECTION 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION
18 OF THE STATE OF INDIANA IS AMENDED TO READ AS
19 FOLLOWS: Section 3. (a) Senators shall be elected for the term of four
20 years, and Representatives for the term of two years, from the day next
21 after their general election. One half of the Senators, as nearly as
22 possible, shall be elected biennially.
23 (b) An individual may not be a candidate for the office of
24 Senator or Representative in the General Assembly if, at the
25 expiration of the term to which the individual would be elected, the
26 sum of:
27 (1) the number of years the individual has served as a Senator
28 in the General Assembly; and
29 (2) the number of years the individual has served as a
30 Representative in the General Assembly;
31 would be greater than sixteen (16) years.
32 SECTION 4. ARTICLE 4, SECTION 5 OF THE CONSTITUTION
33 OF THE STATE OF INDIANA IS AMENDED TO READ AS
34 FOLLOWS: Section 5. (a) The General Assembly elected during the
35 year in which a federal decennial census is taken shall fix by law the
36 number of Senators and Representatives. and apportion them among
37 districts according to the number of inhabitants in each district, as
38 revealed by that federal decennial census.
39 (b) Not later than July 1, 2027, the General Assembly shall
40 establish by law an independent redistricting commission to draw
41 the congressional and legislative districts for the state. The
42 redistricting commission shall be politically balanced and
2024 SJ 9612/DI 144 3
1 representative of Indiana voters. The redistricting commission
2 shall conduct the redistricting process in an open and transparent
3 manner and shall not favor any individual or political party.
4 (c) The following apply to a redistricting plan for Senate
5 districts and to a redistricting plan for House of Representatives
6 districts:
7 (1) A redistricting plan and any individual district may not be
8 drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or
9 an incumbent.
10 (2) A redistricting plan and any individual district may not be
11 drawn with the intent or result of denying or abridging the
12 equal opportunity of racial or language minorities to
13 participate in the political process or to diminish their ability
14 to elect representatives of their choice.
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 (d) Each of the following apply to the districts of a redistricting
19 plan for Senate districts and to the districts of a redistricting plan
20 for House of Representatives districts:
21 (1) The territory in each district shall must be contiguous.
22 (2) The districts of a redistricting plan must be as nearly equal
23 in population as is practicable.
24 (3) The districts of a redistricting plan must, where feasible,
25 utilize existing political and geographical boundaries.
26 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
27 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
28 standards stated in this subsection.
2024 SJ 9612/DI 144