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Pennsylvania State Senate
02/05/2025 01:39 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?Chamber=S&SPick=20250&cosponId=43459
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 2, 2024 10:14 AM
From: Senator Lisa M. Boscola
To: All Senate members
Subject: Redistricting Reform - Establishing an Independent Commission
 
Soon, I plan to reintroduce legislation to amend Pennsylvania’s Constitution to change how Congressional and General Assembly election maps are drawn. This proposal is a reintroduction of S.B. 584 of 2021, which modeled prior legislation from the 2017 – 2018 session that was passed on the senate floor. However, this legislation will not include the language pertaining to judicial redistricting. 

Specifically, the proposal seeks to:
  • Establish an 11-member, independent commission to draw election maps. The commission is comprised of:
    • Four Democrats recommended by Senate and House Majority/Minority Leaders
    • Four Republicans recommended by Senate and House Majority/Minority Leaders
    • Three independents recommended by Governor
  • Confirmation of the members must be done by 2/3 of both the House and Senate.
  • Commission has one year to draw congressional, House, and Senate Districts.
  • Commission approval of maps would require seven of the 11 members – with at least:
    • Two Democrats;
    • Two Republicans, and;
    • Two independents or other parties supporting the proposed maps.
  • If Commission fails to approve maps by October 15, Commission must:
    • Submit two or three sets of maps for two-thirds approval by General Assembly
      • Congressional;
      • State House of Representatives, and;
      • Senate of Pennsylvania.
  • If General Assembly fails to approve maps, Pennsylvania Supreme Court approves:
    • One map from each of sets of maps using established criteria.
  • Other requirements:
    • No lobbyists or legislative staff appointed to the independent commission;
    • Appointees must be properly registered to vote prior to Commission service, and;
    • Limit the number of splits of counties, municipalities, and wards.
 
The next census will be completed in 2030. We have less than ten years to develop a fairer redistricting process that will make our General Assembly more representative and accountable to the voters. This proposal will put us on that path. I encourage my colleagues to signify their support for this reform by joining as a co-sponsor of this legislation.