Bill Text: NH SB255 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishing redistricting criteria.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-24 - Refer to Interim Study, Regular Calendar 13Y-10N, Motion Adopted; 02/24/2022; Senate Journal 4 [SB255 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2022-SB255-Introduced.html

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SB 255  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2022 SESSION

22-3027

11/10

 

SENATE BILL 255

 

AN ACT establishing redistricting criteria.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Cavanaugh, Dist 16; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Kahn, Dist 10

 

COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes redistricting criteria.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-3027

11/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

 

AN ACT establishing redistricting criteria.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Section; Redistricting.  Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 14-c the following new section:

14:14-d  Redistricting; Prohibition on Partisan Gerrymandering.  Any districts created by the New Hampshire senate, house of representatives, or any subcommittee thereof, shall comply with the following criteria:

I.  Districts shall comply with the United States constitution and all applicable federal laws, and shall be drawn on the basis of total population.

II.  Districts shall comply with the New Hampshire constitution and all applicable state laws.

III.  Districts shall form single boundaries and shall not be bisected or otherwise divided by other districts, and shall respect the geographic integrity of political boundaries to the extent practicable without violating the requirements of state law or any preceding subdivisions.

IV.  Districts shall be drawn in compact shapes and shall avoid jagged edges and extensions.

V.  Districts shall consider the integrity of communities of interest to the extent practicable.  For purposes of this paragraph a community of interest is defined as an area with recognized similarities of interests, including but not limited to racial, ethnic, economic, social, cultural, geographic, or historic identities.  Communities of interest shall not include common relationships with political parties or political candidates.

VI.  The plan as a whole shall not have the intent or the effect of unduly favoring or disfavoring any political party, incumbent, or candidate for office.

VII.  Districts shall not have the intent or the effect of unduly favoring or disfavoring any racial or language group.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.