*SJ9609*
Introduced Version
SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION No. 16
_____
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 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Elections.
20251955
2025 SJ 16—SJ 9609/DI 149 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
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 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION No. 16
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-fourth General Assembly of the State of Indiana, and is
4 referred to the next General Assembly for reconsideration and
5 agreement.
6 SECTION 2. ARTICLE 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
7 STATE OF INDIANA IS AMENDED BY ADDING A NEW
8 SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS: Section 15. (a) The following
9 apply to a redistricting plan for Indiana congressional districts:
10 (1) A redistricting plan and any individual district may not be
11 drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or
12 an incumbent.
2025 SJ 16—SJ 9609/DI 149 2
1 (2) A redistricting plan and any individual district may not be
2 drawn with the intent or result of denying or abridging the
3 equal opportunity of racial or language minorities to
4 participate in the political process or to diminish their ability
5 to elect representatives of their choice.
6 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
7 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
8 standards stated in this subsection.
9 (b) Each of the following apply to the districts of a redistricting
10 plan for Indiana congressional districts:
11 (1) The territory in each district must be contiguous.
12 (2) The districts of a plan must be as nearly equal in
13 population as is practicable.
14 (3) The districts of a plan must, where feasible, utilize existing
15 political and geographical boundaries.
16 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
17 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
18 standards stated in this subsection.
19 SECTION 3. ARTICLE 4, SECTION 5 OF THE CONSTITUTION
20 OF THE STATE OF INDIANA IS AMENDED TO READ AS
21 FOLLOWS: Section 5. (a) The General Assembly elected during the
22 year in which a federal decennial census is taken shall fix by law the
23 number of Senators and Representatives and apportion them among
24 districts according to the number of inhabitants in each district, as
25 revealed by that federal decennial census.
26 (b) The following apply to a redistricting plan for senate
27 districts and to a redistricting plan for house of representative
28 districts:
29 (1) A redistricting plan and any individual district may not be
30 drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or
31 an incumbent.
32 (2) A redistricting plan and any individual district may not be
33 drawn with the intent or result of denying or abridging the
34 equal opportunity of racial or language minorities to
35 participate in the political process or to diminish their ability
36 to elect representatives of their choice.
37 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
38 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
39 standards stated in this subsection.
40 (c) Each of the following apply to the districts of a redistricting
41 plan for senate districts and to the districts of a redistricting plan
42 for house of representative districts:
2025 SJ 16—SJ 9609/DI 149 3
1 (1) The territory in each district shall must be contiguous.
2 (2) The districts of a plan must be as nearly equal in
3 population as is practicable.
4 (3) The districts of a plan must, where feasible, utilize existing
5 political and geographical boundaries.
6 The order in which the standards of this subsection are stated do
7 not establish the priority of a single standard over the other
8 standards stated in this subsection.
2025 SJ 16—SJ 9609/DI 149