Congressional and state legislative districts; standards and criteria. (HB1598)

Introduced By

Del. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk) with support from co-patron Del. Steve Landes (R-Weyers Cave)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Standards and criteria for congressional and state legislative districts. Provides criteria by which congressional and state legislative districts are to be drawn, including equal population, racial and ethnic fairness, respect for existing political boundaries, contiguity, compactness, and communities of interest. The criteria set out would apply to those districts drawn following the 2020 United States Census and thereafter. This bill is identical to SB 106. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/19/2018Committee
01/19/2018Presented and ordered printed 18105613D
01/19/2018Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/23/2018Assigned P & E sub: Subcommittee #1
02/05/2018Impact statement from DPB (HB1598)
02/06/2018Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment (6-Y 0-N)
02/09/2018Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment (21-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
02/10/2018Read first time
02/12/2018Read second time
02/12/2018Committee amendment agreed to
02/12/2018Amendment by Delegate Toscano rejected (49-Y 50-N)
02/12/2018VOTE: REJECTED (49-Y 50-N) (see vote tally)
02/12/2018Engrossed by House as amended HB1598E
02/12/2018Printed as engrossed 18105613D-E
02/13/2018Read third time and passed House (97-Y 1-N)
02/13/2018VOTE: PASSAGE (97-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
02/14/2018Impact statement from DPB (HB1598E)
02/14/2018Constitutional reading dispensed
02/14/2018Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/20/2018Reported from Privileges and Elections (10-Y 4-N) (see vote tally)
02/22/2018Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/23/2018Passed by for the day
02/26/2018Read third time
02/26/2018Passed Senate (23-Y 17-N) (see vote tally)
02/28/2018Enrolled
02/28/2018Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1598ER)
02/28/2018Impact statement from DPB (HB1598ER)
02/28/2018Signed by Speaker
03/03/2018Signed by President
03/06/2018Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 6, 2018
03/06/2018G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, April 9, 2018
04/09/2018Governor's recommendation received by House
04/18/2018House rejected Governor's recommendation (48-Y 51-N)
04/18/2018VOTE: REJECTED (48-Y 51-N)
04/18/2018Communicated to Governor
04/18/2018G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, May 18, 2018
05/18/2018G Vetoed by Governor

Comments

Christine F DeRosa writes:

This bill establishes minimum criteria for fair redistricting. Please send this to the House floor for a vote.

Sue Mosher writes:

Federal law requires that districts have equal population and conform to Voting Rights Act protection. In addition, the Virginia constitution requires that districts be compact and contiguous, but it does not define those standards. Identical bills HB1598 and SB106 would define or establish good state criteria for drawing congressional and General Assembly districts, beyond the federal mandates. But they could be even better! I urge Gov Northam to send these bills back to the General Assembly with an amendment to add language to prohibit political gerrymandering, e.g. "No district shall be drawn for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring any political party, incumbent legislator or member of Congress, or potential candidate."