Conference committee approves guardrails for independent redistricting panel, 4–2

The conference committee on House Bill 20 six-ten 38 approved its first conference committee report on a 4–2 vote, adopting amendments intended to add procedural guardrails to the state’s independent redistricting committee.

The chair said the committee would accept changes the Senate had made and then introduce additional requirements for the redistricting panel: a balance between the largest and second-largest parties, a requirement that members have been affiliated (or unaffiliated) for at least three years before appointment, and a public application process with at least 30 days’ notice.

Representative Clifford, who moved the conference committee amendment, said the changes responded to citizen concerns about last-minute party switching to influence appointments. "All it would take was having somebody go change their party affiliation right before," Clifford said, arguing the three‑year affiliation requirement and a formal public application process would keep the panel independent and reduce the chance of partisan stacking.

Senator Snider, who seconded the motion, called the legislation nonpartisan and said the amendments would strengthen the bill’s protections: "I think these amendments really, make it a better bill and really ensure that the process remains nonpartisan," Snider said.

Senator Rich said he did not support the bill and, as a former county clerk, did not believe the changes to be necessary; he stated he would not sign the conference committee report.

After the motion was seconded the committee recorded votes in which Clifford and the chair voted yes, Plano and Rich voted no, and Wallace and Snyder voted yes, producing a 4–2 passage of the amendment. The chair announced that the first conference committee report on House Bill 20 six-ten 38 was approved by a vote of 4 to 2 and adjourned the committee.

Pierce Lively of the Office of Legislative Legal Services said he would arrange for the adopted draft report to be printed and available for members to sign on the floor, and explained that the committee had adopted the draft report as presented rather than an amended draft.

The committee adjourned; one member closed with a light remark hoping House members would get some sleep.

The conference committee’s action sends the adopted draft report forward according to the usual floor procedures; Legislative Legal Services will provide the finalized report and advise members about signing and floor steps.