House Bill No. 5316 establishes the Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission in Texas, which will manage the redistricting process for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Texas Legislature, and the State Board of Education. The bill introduces new legal language to the Government Code, specifically adding Subtitle C and Chapter 581, which detail the commission's structure, authority, and operational guidelines. The commission will consist of 14 members, including five from the majority party, five from the minority party, and four independent members, selected through a transparent process to ensure independence and representation of the state's diversity. The bill outlines qualifications for members, the appointment process, and criteria for drawing district boundaries, emphasizing public input and transparency throughout the redistricting process.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the commission conduct public hearings before and after map creation, with audiovisual recordings made available online within 48 hours. It prohibits the consideration of incumbents' residences and existing district lines when drawing new maps, ensuring compliance with constitutional requirements and the Voting Rights Act. The commission is granted the authority to defend legal challenges to certified maps and allows registered voters to file petitions against maps they believe violate legal provisions. The bill also includes provisions for the commission's organization, budget, and member compensation, with the new regulations applying only to decennial censuses conducted on or after January 1, 2030, and set to take effect on September 1, 2029, pending voter approval of a related constitutional amendment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 2058.002 (Government Code 2058)