TX SJR43

Proposes a constitutional amendment to create a 15-member independent redistricting commission responsible for drawing electoral districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas Senate, and Texas House of Representatives, replacing the current Legislative Redistricting Board

Commission members would be selected from a pool of 36 eligible individuals divided into three categories: majority party affiliates (12), minority party affiliates (12), and independents (12), with initial members chosen randomly by a nonpartisan legislative agency

Establishes strict eligibility and disqualification criteria for commissioners, including 10-year lookback periods for political activity, prohibiting candidates, lobbyists, political party officers, and family members of elected officials from serving

Requires redistricting plans to comply with federal law, the Voting Rights Act, and state law, while prohibiting plans that unfairly favor or disfavor any political party; plans cannot consider incumbent addresses or partisan voting history except for compliance purposes

Mandates extensive public transparency including open meetings, public hearings across the state, a public website with all data and draft maps, and at least 30-day public comment periods before final plans are approved

If approved by voters in November 2025, the amendment would take effect January 1, 2029, in time for the 2030 census redistricting cycle