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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
independent redistricting commission; membership
Purpose
Subject to voter approval, constitutionally renames the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) as the Fair and Independent Redistricting Commission (FAIR Commission). Outlines requirements for the FAIR Commission membership and increases the membership from five members to nine members. Prohibits the population of the largest legislative district from exceeding the smallest legislative district by more than 5,000 persons.
Background
In 2000, the voters enacted Proposition 106 which constitutionally transferred responsibility for drawing the state’s congressional and legislative district lines from the Legislature to the IRC. By January 8 of years ending in one, the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments (Appellate Commission) or its designee must nominate a pool of 25 nominees who are willing to serve on and are qualified for appointment to the IRC.
By February 28
of each year that ends in one, the IRC must be established to provide for the
redistricting of congressional and state legislative districts. The IRC must
consist of five members, with no more than two members of the same political
party. Of the first four members appointed, no more than two members may reside
in the same county. Each member must be a registered Arizona voter who has been
continuously registered with the same political party or registered as
unaffiliated for at least three years immediately preceding appointment. By
January 31 of years ending in one, the Speaker of the House of Representatives
(House), the House Minority Leader, the Senate President and the Senate
Minority Leader must each make one appointment to the IRC from the pool of
nominees. At a meeting called by the Secretary of State (SOS), the four IRC
members must, by majority vote, select a fifth member from the nomination pool
who is not registered with any party already represented on the IRC. The fifth
member must serve as chair of the IRC. Three commissioners, including the chair
or vice-chair, constitute a quorum. The IRC must conduct business in meetings
open to the public and provide at least
48-hour notice.
The IRC begins the mapping process by creating districts of equal population in a grid-like pattern across Arizona. Adjustments to the districts are made to accommodate compliance with: 1) the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act; 2) equal population for the congressional districts and equal population for the state legislative districts; 3) geographic compactness and contiguousness; 4) boundaries that respect communities of interest; 5) use of visible geographic features, city, town and county boundaries and undivided census tracts; and 6) favoring the creation of competitive districts without significant detriment to the outlined goals (Ariz. Const. art. 4, pt. 2, § 1).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Renames the IRC as the FAIR Commission.
2. Prohibits the population of the largest legislative district from exceeding the smallest legislative district by more than 5,000 persons.
3. Requires the FAIR Commission to be established by March 15, rather than February 28, of each year that ends in one.
4. Increases the membership of the FAIR Commission from five members to nine members.
5. Requires the Appellate Commission to nominate a pool of 30 candidates, rather than 25 candidates, to be considered for appointment to the FAIR Commission.
6. Specifies that not more than 10 candidates, rather than 5 candidates, may be registered with either of the two largest political parties in Arizona.
7. Requires the membership of the FAIR Commission to consist 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 a different county from the remaining counties; and
d) a final commissioner who resides in any county.
8. Specifies that no more than three members, rather than two members, of the FAIR Commission may be of the same political party.
9. Requires, following the outlined procedures for the appointment of the first four members of the FAIR Commission:
a) the highest ranking officer elected by the Senate and the highest ranking officer of the House who are of the same political party to jointly make one appointment; and
b) the Senate Minority Leader and the highest ranking officer of the House who are of the same political party to jointly make one appointment.
10. Requires each member appointed to the FAIR Commission to be a member of the same political party as the legislators who jointly appoint the member.
11. Specifies that any vacancy in the first six FAIR Commission positions as of March 15, rather than March 1, must be filled from the pool of nominees by the Appellate Commission.
12. Requires the first six members of the FAIR Commission, by majority vote, to select the final three members from the nomination pool who are not registered with any political party already represented on the FAIR Commission.
13. Requires the first six members of the FAIR Commission to designate one of the final three members as chair of the FAIR Commission.
14. Requires the FAIR Commission to conduct business in compliance with open meeting law.
15. Designates this legislation as the Fair and Independent Redistricting (F.A.I.R.) Commission Act of 2026.
16. Makes technical and conforming changes.
17. Requires the SOS to submit the proposition to the voters at the next general election.
18. Becomes effective if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 15, 2026
AN/KP/ci