Texas Senate Bill SJR43

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment establishing the Texas Redistricting Commission and providing redistricting procedures for state legislative, state judicial, and congressional districts.

Impact

If enacted, the establishment of the Texas Redistricting Commission will shift the responsibility of redistricting from solely the legislature to a commission consisting of appointed members, which includes representatives from both major political parties. This will potentially mitigate partisan gerrymandering by requiring a broader consensus for the redistricting plans, thereby impacting how districts are delineated based on the latest census data and promoting more compact, equivalent districts that comply with existing laws protecting voter rights.

Summary

SJR43 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the Texas Redistricting Commission, outlining new procedures for redistricting state legislative, state judicial, and congressional districts. The amendment seeks to ensure that redistricting occurs post the United States decennial census, with laid out structures for how districts are to be drawn, aiming to promote fairness and transparency in the redistricting process by incorporating mandates on public input through hearings and the requirement that the process be open to the public.

Contention

While several stakeholders support the bill, believing it enhances accountability and representation, concerns have been expressed over the potential complications that might arise from a multi-party commission. Opponents argue that bipartisan committees could lead to gridlock or compromise outcomes that do not truly reflect the will of the voters. Moreover, there are apprehensions that such a system may not effectively address partisan influences in newly drawn districts, potentially leading to legal challenges or further amendments in the future.