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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: GOV DP 4-2-1-0 | Third Read 16-13-1-0 |
SCR 1023: independent redistricting commission; membership
Sponsor: Senator Mesnard, LD 13
Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
Overview
Subject to voter approval, increases and amends the membership of the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC). Renames the IRC to the Fair And Independent Redistricting Commission. Prohibits the population of the largest legislative district from exceeding the population of the smallest legislative district by more than 5,000 persons.
History
The duty of the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) is to establish the boundaries of the Arizona congressional and legislative districts in an independent and impartial fashion based on outlined criteria.
Currently, By January 31st of each year ending in one, the majority and minority leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate must each appoint the first four members from the pool provided by the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments (Appellate Commission) to the IRC. No more than two IRC members may be from the same political party and no more than two of the first four members appointed may be from the same county.
All IRC members must have been registered with the same political party or no political party and may not have held any public office except school board member or served as an officer for a political party, a campaign manager or a registered lobbyist for three years before appointment (Ariz. Const. Art. IV, Part 2, § 1).
Provisions
1. Renames the IRC to the Fair And Independent Redistricting Commission (FAIR Commission).
2. Requires the FAIR Commission to be established by March 15th, rather than by February 28th, of each year that ends in one.
3. States the FAIR Commission must consist of nine members, rather than five members.
4. Mandates that not more than three members, rather than not more than two members, may be members of the same political party.
5. Requires the FAIR Commission be comprised of:
a. four commissioners who reside in the most populous county;
b. two commissioners who reside in the second most populous county;
c. two commissioners who each reside in different counties of the remaining counties; and
d. a final commissioner who resides in any county.
6. Requires the Appellate Commission to nominate a pool of 30 candidates, rather than 25 candidates, to be considered for appointment to the FAIR Commission, with 10 nominees, rather than 5, not being registered with either of the two largest Arizona political parties.
7. Requires, once the first four members of the FAIR Commission are appointed:
a. the highest-ranking officer elected by the Arizona Senate and the highest-ranking officer elected by the Arizona House of Representatives who are of the same political party to make one appointment jointly; and
b. the minority party leader of the Arizona Senate and the highest-ranking officer elected by the Arizona House of Representatives who are of the same political party to make one appointment jointly.
8. Specifies that each FAIR Commission member appointed must be a member of the same political party as the person who appoints the member.
9. States that any vacancy in the six FAIR Commission positions remaining as of March 15th, rather than as of March 1st, must be filled from the Appellate Commission pool of nominees.
10. Requires the first six FAIR Commission members to select three members by majority vote from the Appellate Commission pool and designate one of those members to serve as chair.
11. States that five, rather than three, commissioners constitute a quorum of the FAIR Commission.
12. Specifies that five or more, rather than three or more, affirmative votes are required for any official action, except that a vote to approve final district boundaries requires six or more affirmative votes.
13. Requires the FAIR Commission to conduct business in compliance with the open meeting laws of Arizona applicable to public bodies.
14. Prohibits the population of the largest legislative district from exceeding the population of the smallest legislative district by more than 5,000 persons.
15. Cites the proposed amendment as the Fair And Independent Redistricting (F.A.I.R.) Commission Act of 2026.
16. Instructs the Secretary of State to submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election.
17. Makes technical and conforming changes.
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21. Initials GG SCR 1023
22. 3/23/2026 Page 0 Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
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