S.B. No. 23 proposes the establishment of the Texas Redistricting Commission, which will be responsible for creating electoral districts for the United States House of Representatives, the Texas House of Representatives, and the Texas Senate. The bill amends Title 5 of the Government Code to include a new subtitle and chapter dedicated to redistricting, outlining the commission's powers, duties, membership eligibility, and operational procedures. Key provisions include the requirement that commission members be Texas voters over the age of 25, with specific eligibility criteria related to political party affiliation and public office. The commission will consist of nine members, with eight appointed in a bipartisan manner by the legislature and one independent member selected by the appointed members.

The bill also details the operational framework for the commission, including the need for sufficient funding, the adoption of procedural rules, and the timeline for redistricting plans. It mandates that redistricting plans must be adopted by November 15 of the year following the census year, with provisions for challenges to the plans and requirements for public reporting. Importantly, the act will only take effect if a related constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature is approved by voters, otherwise, it will have no effect.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()