REDISTRICTING REFORM

None of the bills to reform Maryland’s redistricting process were reported out of committee before the General Assembly adjourned.

SB 99, SB 814, HB 427, HB 428 and HB 267 all dealt with establishing a Commission for redistricting, but they had different criteria.

HB 610 would have established a commission to study the redistricting process.

HB 850 and SB 448 would have established the same criteria that the Maryland constitution applies to legislative districts.

HB 906 would have required that members of the House of Delegates be elected from a single member district. It is anticipated that the Governor will soon create the redistricting reform study commission he promised in his state of the state address.

Ralph Watkins