MN SF1715

Establishes nesting requirement that state house districts cannot be divided when forming state senate districts.

Sets population deviation limit of no more than two percent from the ideal district population for legislative districts, while congressional districts must be as nearly equal in population as practicable.

Requires legislative districts numbered beginning with House District 1A in the northwest corner proceeding west to east and north to south, bypassing the 11-county metropolitan area until reaching southeast corner, then the metro area outside Minneapolis and Saint Paul, then those cities; congressional districts numbered beginning with District 1 in the southeast corner and ending with District 8 in the northeast corner.

Mandates districts be convenient, contiguous, and compact; prohibits districts from connecting only at single points; restricts division of political subdivisions to constitutional requirements; and requires compliance with the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Prohibits drawing districts for purpose of protecting or defeating incumbents, though impact on incumbents is a subordinate consideration; requires use of Geographic Information Systems Office data and block equivalency files before redistricting plan adoption; effective the day following final enactment.