Senate Bill 475 Summary

• Creates a 9-member congressional redistricting commission within the department of state, with 4 members appointed by each of the two major political parties and 1 neutral chairperson appointed by the auditor general.

• Requires the commission to hold at least 6 public hearings across four designated geographic regions (Upper Peninsula, Northern Lower Peninsula, Southwestern Michigan, and Southeastern Michigan) before voting on any redistricting plan.

• Mandates the commission post redistricting plans on a website for at least 72 hours before voting and prohibit changes unless posted for the same period.

• By September 1, 2021, and every 10 years thereafter, the commission must prepare and deliver a congressional redistricting plan to the legislature; if 6 members cannot agree, each major party's appointees may submit separate plans by September 15.

• Establishes redistricting guidelines prioritizing population equality, federal voting rights requirements, and secondary priorities including contiguity, compactness, and minimal splitting of county and local boundaries.