Nevada SJR 6: Proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to create an independent redistricting commission. (BDR C-748)

Bill Text

S.J.R. 6
- *SJR6*

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6–SENATOR HANSEN

PREFILED FEBRUARY 3, 2025
____________

Referred to Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections

SUMMARY—Proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to create
an independent redistricting commission.
(BDR C-748)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: Yes.

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION—Proposing to amend the Nevada
Constitution to remove the constitutional provisions
governing the Legislature’s authority to apportion
Senators and members of the Assembly among counties
or legislative districts of the State and create the
Independent Redistricting Commission vested with
the power to apportion Senators and members of the
Assembly in the Legislature and members of the United
States House of Representatives among districts
established by the Commission.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution requires the Legislature to apportion 1
Senators and members of the Assembly among the counties or legislative districts 2
of the State after each decennial census. (Nev. Const. Art. 4, § 5) This resolution 3
proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to remove the constitutional provisions 4
that require the Legislature to apportion Senators and members of the Assembly 5
and, instead, create the Independent Redistricting Commission to apportion 6
Senators, members of the Assembly and representatives in the United States House 7
of Representatives among legislative districts established by the Commission. 8
This resolution proposes adding new sections to the Nevada Constitution to 9
create the Independent Redistricting Commission and requires the Commission to 10
apportion representatives of the United States House of Representatives among 11
congressional districts established by the Commission. This proposed amendment 12
to the Nevada Constitution requires the Commission to apportion Senators, 13
members of the Assembly and members of the United States House of 14
Representatives beginning in 2031 and after each subsequent decennial census of 15
the United States. 16

– 2 –

- *SJR6*
This proposed amendment to the Nevada Constitution requires: (1) the 17
Commission to be composed of seven members who are registered and eligible to 18
vote in this State; and (2) the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, 19
Speaker of the Assembly and Assembly Minority Leader to each appoint one 20
member. The remaining three members are: (1) required to be appointed by the four 21
members appointed by the legislative officers; and (2) prohibited from being 22
registered or affiliated with the largest or second largest political party for at least 4 23
years immediately preceding their appointment. This proposed amendment to the 24
Nevada Constitution requires the members of the Commission to serve terms for 25
the duration of the obligations of a census cycle. 26
This proposed amendment to the Nevada Constitution also specifies the criteria 27
that the Commission is required to use in adopting a redistricting plan. 28
This proposed amendment to the Nevada Constitution provides for certain 29
provisions of these constitutional amendments to remain in effect in the event that 30
any other provision is deemed unconstitutional. 31
If this joint resolution is passed by the 2025 Legislature, it must also be passed 32
by the next Legislature and then approved and ratified by the voters in an election 33
before the proposed amendments to the Nevada Constitution become effective. 34

RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF 1
NEVADA, JOINTLY, That a new section, designated Section 5A, be 2
added to Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution to read as follows: 3
Sec. 5A. 1. There is hereby created within the 4
Legislative Department of the State Government the 5
Independent Redistricting Commission. It shall be the duty 6
of the Commission in the year 2031, and after each 7
subsequent decennial census of the United States, to 8
apportion the number of Senators and members of the 9
Assembly among legislative districts established by the 10
Commission and to apportion the number of representatives 11
in the United States House of Representatives among 12
congressional districts established by the Commission. 13
2. The Commission is composed of seven members who 14
are registered and eligible to vote in this State and who meet 15
the qualifications established in subsection 4. The Senate 16
Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, Speaker of the 17
Assembly and Assembly Minority Leader shall each appoint 18
one commissioner. 19
3. The four commissioners appointed pursuant to 20
subsection 2 shall appoint three additional commissioners, 21
each of whom must not have been registered or affiliated 22
with the largest or second largest political party for at least 23
4 years immediately preceding his or her