H.B. No. 221 establishes the Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission in Texas, responsible for redistricting districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Texas Legislature, and the State Board of Education. The bill amends Title 5 of the Government Code to introduce a new Subtitle C focused on redistricting, detailing the commission's composition of 14 members—five from the majority party, five from the minority party, and four independents—selected through a transparent process that includes public input. The commission is mandated to adhere to established redistricting criteria, ensuring fairness and representation, and is required to conduct public hearings and solicit comments on proposed maps.

The bill also outlines the selection process for commission members, including provisions for caucus leaders to strike applicants and the random selection of initial members by the state auditor. It emphasizes the commission's powers and duties, including compliance with constitutional requirements and geographic integrity in districting. Additionally, it allows registered voters to challenge final maps within 45 days of certification and mandates that boundary changes be implemented by October 1 of the redistricting year. The bill's provisions will take effect only if a related constitutional amendment is approved by voters in 2025 and will apply to censuses conducted on or after January 1, 2030.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 42.032, Government Code 24.946, Government Code 24.948 (Government Code 24, Election Code 42)