House Bill 1008 - Redistricting Commission

• Establishes a five-member redistricting commission appointed by legislative leaders (one member each from House Speaker, House Minority Leader, Senate President Pro Tempore, and Senate Minority Leader) with a fifth chair appointed by the remaining four members or by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court if they fail to appoint by March 1 of the redistricting year.

• Requires the commission to create and hold public hearings on redistricting plans for the Indiana House (100 districts), Senate (50 districts), and U.S. Congressional districts, with at least one hearing in each of three regions of Indiana by June 30 of the redistricting year.

• Sets redistricting standards requiring districts to be based on population with no more than 1% deviation from ideal population, composed of contiguous territory, as compact as practicable, and must not breach precinct boundaries while minimizing division of counties and cities.

• Mandates the commission submit its recommendations to the General Assembly by August 1 of the redistricting year; if the Indiana Constitution requires it, the General Assembly must enact redistricting bills before October 1 of the redistricting year.

• Provides continuous appropriation from the state general fund for commission and Legislative Services Agency expenses, and repeals the existing congressional redistricting commission law.