MN HF1974

Establishes redistricting principles for Minnesota legislative and congressional districts that must be drawn by the legislature, with no delegation to external commissions or entities.

Requires legislative districts to have substantially equal population with maximum deviation of 0.5 percent plus or minus, while congressional districts must be as nearly equal in population as practicable.

Mandates districts be composed of contiguous territory with compactness encouraged where consistent with other principles, and prohibits point contiguity.

Establishes specific numbering systems for legislative districts beginning in the northwest corner and proceeding west to east and north to south, and congressional districts beginning in the southeast corner.

Requires redistricting plans to protect minority voting rights under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, preserve communities of interest, minimize divisions of counties and cities, and use population data from the Geographic Information Systems Office of the Legislative Coordinating Commission.

Prioritizes compliance with principles in listed order when full compliance is impossible, except where doing so would violate federal or state law, and takes effect the day following final enactment.