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HJR 23D

State Reapportionment

2026 Special Session D Introduced by Daryl Campbell

Establish independent redistricting commissions for Senate, House, and Congress with 10-year terms, expanded districts, and mandated public, data-driven map drawing.

Died in State Affairs Committee
#concurrent) #constitutionalamendments
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Bill Summary · HJR 23D

Summary of HJR 23D (2026D) – State Reapportionment, Florida

Purpose and intent

  • This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to Section 16, Article III of the Florida State Constitution.
  • The core objective is to overhaul the state’s reapportionment process by creating independent redistricting commissions for each of three levels: Senate, House of Representatives, and congressional districts.
  • It also increases the number of districts: Senate from 40 to 60, and House from 120 to 180.
  • The amendment outlines how commissions would operate, how maps are drawn, and how disputes are resolved if legislative action fails.

Key provisions and changes

A. Establishment of Independent Redistricting Commissions

  • Florida would be apportioned by three independent commissions (Senate, House, and U.S. Congress), each handling its own redistricting.
  • Each commission must have a screening panel of 37 members:
    • Appointments to the screening panel: Senate President, House Speaker, House minority leader, and Senate minority leader each appoint 9 members; the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court appoints 1 member.
  • Eligibility and disqualifications for applicants:
    • Applicants must have voted in two of the last three presidential elections and gubernatorial elections.
    • Certain individuals cannot apply or serve (e.g., current or recent officeholders elected by voters; certain lobbyists or campaign staff; recent staff of the Florida Legislature; close family connections to listed categories).
  • Screening Panel process:
    • The screening panel selects 15 applicants from each of three categories based on political affiliation: 1) Registered with the party that received the most votes in the last statewide election. 2) Registered with the party that received the second-most votes. 3) Registered as independent or minor party.
    • The panel also must ensure the selected pool represents racial, ethnic, geographic, and gender diversity.
    • Leadership (Senate President, House Speaker, and minority leaders) may strike two applicants from each category.
    • The screening panel then randomly draws five applicants from each category to form each final commission.
  • Term and eligibility:
    • Initial commissioners begin service in 2027.
    • Each commissioner serves a 10-year term and cannot serve consecutive terms.
    • Individuals who run for office may not have served on the commission that drew the district for that office during their term or within 10 years after maps are promulgated.

B. Commission operations and transparency

  • Compensation: Commissioners receive pay at the legislative per diem rate, plus reasonable travel and meeting expenses.
  • Meetings and records:
    • All meetings must be in person and streamed publicly.
    • All records, documents, and advisory materials are public records.
    • Communications with outsiders about reapportionment must occur only in public meetings/hearings (with exceptions for written public comments and staff/advisors’ internal communications).
  • Legal counsel: If the commission hires counsel, the commission is considered the client.
  • Public platform: The commission must maintain a public website with:
    • A portal for map submissions opening January 1 of the year ending in one.
    • Publication of all data used for drawing (census data, precinct maps, election results, shapefiles) within three days of receipt.
    • A data-rich environment to solicit input from Floridians.

C. District maps and adoption

  • Each commission is required to draw three district maps (senatorial, representative, and congressional) in accordance with constitutional standards.
  • Map adoption:
    • Final district maps require at least two-thirds approval by the commission, including at least two commissioners affiliated with independent or minor parties.
  • Public engagement:
    • The commission must hold at least two public hearings in each state appellate district and in every county with a population of 1 million+ to gather input.
    • Public notices and hearings must be advertised in multiple languages: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese.

D. Legislative and judicial roles in map adoption

  • Legislature’s role:
    • In the second year after each decennial census, the Legislature must adopt one of the commission-drawn maps into law (not less than 30 nor more than 60 senatorial districts; not less than 80 nor more than 180 representative districts).
    • Maps may be amended by the Legislature only with a three-quarters vote of each chamber.
    • Final adoption deadline: by July 1 of a year ending in one, or within 60 days after census data receipt; extensions possible to December 15 in extraordinary circumstances.
    • Extraordinary sessions: If the Legislature adjourns without adopting, the Governor can reconvene for a 30-day special apportionment session to complete the task.
  • Judicial role in map selection:
    • If the Legislature fails to adopt a map, the Florida Supreme Court selects the most compact map from the three submitted without amendment.
    • The Court may hire up to two special masters; the Attorney General must petition the Court to proceed within five days.
    • The Court has up to 60 days after petition to file an order implementing the map.
  • Legal challenges:
    • The Attorney General petitions the Supreme Court for declaratory judgment regarding the validity of apportionment within 15 days after the joint resolution’s passage.
    • The Court has rules to allow adversary input; justices with close relationships to elected officials or legislators are barred from participating.

E. Contingent and fallback mechanisms

  • If the Supreme Court finds the legislative map invalid, or if an extraordinary apportionment session fails, the commissions re-engage to propose lawful replacements, with a structured process and timeframes.

Who would be affected

  • Floridians: Indirectly through who represents them in the Legislature and Congress.
  • Elected officials: Current and future members of the Florida Legislature and Congress would be subject to new district maps.
  • Appointed commissioners: 2027 start date for the initial independent commissions, with 10-year terms.
  • Public: Higher accessibility to the redistricting process via open data, public hearings, multilingual outreach, and a public submission portal.

Procedural and timeline highlights

  • Commission terms begin in 2027; first maps drawn for the 2028 elections cycle.
  • Data and maps become publicly accessible within three days of receipt by the commission.
  • Hearings required across all appellate regions and large counties; multilingual outreach mandated.
  • Legislature to select one commission map within a defined post-census window; failure triggers judicial selection and potential gubernatorial actions.
  • Ballot language provides voters with a constitutional amendment describing the reform and the creation of commissions, increased district counts, and judicial roles.

Note: This summary reflects the text as filed for HJR 23D (2026D) and outlines proposed structural changes, processes, and timelines.

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

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