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HJRCA 28

CONAMEND-REDISTRICTING

104th Regular Session Introduced by Carol Ammons and 31 co-sponsors

Illinois districts must be drawn to equal population, protect voting rights, and favor feasible racial coalitions, with a fallback independent commission if needed.

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Bill Summary · HJRCA 28

Summary of Bill: HJRCA 28 (Illinois, 104th General Assembly)

Overview

  • Type: House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment
  • Subject: Redistricting of Legislative and Representative Districts
  • Introduced: April 20, 2026
  • Sponsor/Co-Sponsors: Lead sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, with a broad group of co-sponsors
  • Effective date / Implementation: Takes effect upon being declared adopted. Applies to redistricting beginning in 2031 and to elections beginning in 2032.

Purpose and Intent

The bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Illinois’ Article IV, Section 3 (Legislative Redistricting). Its core goal is to reform the criteria and process for drawing Legislative and Representative Districts after each decennial census, focusing on population equality, protections against racial discrimination in the political process, and the creation of districts that promote racial coalition or influence where feasible.

Key Provisions

Priority Criteria for District Boundaries

Legislative and Representative Districts must be drawn, in order of priority, to:
1. Population equality: Be substantially equal in population.
2. Voting rights protection: Ensure that no citizen is denied an equal opportunity to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of his or her choice on account of race.
3. Racial coalition/influence districts (where practical): Create, where practical, districts that foster racial coalitions or influence.
4. Contiguity: Districts must be contiguous.
5. Compactness (where practicable): Aim for compactness, to the extent practicable.

Distinctions Between District Types

  • Legislative Districts: Must be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population (in line with the five priorities).
  • Representative Districts: Must be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population (priorities 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 apply similarly).

Redistricting Process and Timelines

  • Post-Federal Census Redistricting Cycle: Following each decennial federal census year, the General Assembly is to redistrict the Legislative and Representative Districts by law.
  • If no plan is effective by June 30 of the census year: A Legislative Redistricting Commission is formed by July 10.
    • Commission composition: 8 members total, with no more than 4 from the same political party.
    • Appointments:
    • Speaker and House Minority Leader appoint one Representative and one non-legislator each.
    • Senate President and Senate Minority Leader appoint one Senator and one non-legislator each.
    • Vacancies filled within five days by the appointing authority.
    • A Chairman and Vice Chairman chosen by majority vote of Commission members.
  • Timelines for the Commission:
    • By August 10: File a redistricting plan approved by at least five members.
    • If no plan is filed, the Illinois Supreme Court steps in:
    • By September 1: Court provides names of two non-party-affiliated persons for the ninth Commission member.
    • By September 5: Secretary of State publicly draws by random selection one of the two as the ninth member.
    • By October 5: Commission files a plan approved by at least five members.
  • Validity and Jurisdiction:
    • An approved plan filed with the Secretary of State is presumed valid and has the force of law.
    • The Supreme Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction over redistricting actions, brought in the name of the People by the Attorney General.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Who is affected:
    • Electors and residents of Illinois, as redistricting changes how legislative and representative districts are drawn.
    • Members of the General Assembly and potential candidates, given redistricting can influence district lines and electoral dynamics.
    • In practice, communities of interest and racial/ethnic groups that could be affected by ways districts are drawn to improve or limit representation.
  • Policy implications:
    • Emphasizes population parity and voting rights protections related to race.
    • Encourages consideration of racial coalitions or influence in district design “where practical,” signaling a shift toward minority-influence criteria.
    • Introduces a formal, quasi-independent process (the Legislative Redistricting Commission) to produce redistricting plans if the General Assembly fails to act timely, with a fallback involvement by the Supreme Court.

Procedural Highlights

  • The amendment sets a clear sequence of steps and fallback mechanisms to ensure redistricting occurs after each census.
  • It codifies a mixed-appointment model for the commission (legislative and non-legislative members) and a tie-breaking ninth member selected by random draw if needed.
  • It establishes a presumption of validity for commission-drafted plans once filed with the Secretary of State.
  • It places jurisdiction for redistricting disputes with the Illinois Supreme Court.

Summary

HJRCA 28 would amend Illinois’ constitution to:
- Prioritize equal population, racial voting rights protections, and potential racial coalition districts, followed by contiguity and compactness, in both Legislative and Representative district draws.
- Create a formal redistricting process involving a bipartisan or nonpartisan commission if the General Assembly fails to enact a plan by a deadline, with court intervention as a fallback.
- Establish specific procedural timelines and governance structures to guide post-census redistricting, effective for redistricting beginning in 2031 and elections in 2032.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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