New Mexico Citizen Redistricting Committee - Created by SB304

SB304 passed the 2021 New Mexico Legislature and was signed by the Governor created a Citizen Redistricting Committee.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP: The committee is composed of seven members, appointed,with due regard to the cultural and geographic diversity of the state, as follows: one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; one member appointed by the minority floor leader of the house of representatives;

one member appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate; one member appointed by the minority floor leader of the senate; two members appointed by the state ethics commission, who shall not be members of the largest or second largest political parties in the state; and one member appointed by the state ethics commission, who shall be a retired justice of the New Mexico supreme court or a retired judge of the New Mexico court of appeals, and who shall chair the committee.

No more than three members of the committee shall be members of the same political party. A member of the committee shall not have changed party registration in the two years preceding the member's appointment in such a manner that the member's prior party registration would cause one political party to have more than three members. A member of the committee shall not continue to

serve on the committee if the member changes party registration after the date of appointment in such a manner as to cause one political party to have more than three members.

QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for appointment to the committee, a person shall: be a qualified elector of New Mexico and a voter; and shall not be, or in the two years prior to appointment have been, in New Mexico, any of the following: a public official; a candidate for public office; a lobbyist; an office holder in a political party at the state or federal level; a relative in the first degree of consanguinity of a member of congress, the state house of representatives, the state senate or the public education commission; an employee of congress, the legislative branch of government or other state office required to be redistricted by the committee; or an employee of the executive branch of government.

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COMMITTEE DUTIES.-- Beginning July 1, 2021, and every August 1 of each year ending in the number zero thereafter, the committee shall: no later than October 30, 2021, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and September 1 of each year ending in the number one thereafter, adopt three district plans each for:

New Mexico's congressional districts; the state house of representatives; the state senate; and the other state offices required to be redistricted;

Hold no fewer than six public meetings that allow for virtual participation before publishing the district plans for public comment; provided that in-person meetings shall not be required if such meetings would violate a public health order;

Hold no fewer than six public meetings that allow for virtual participation for the purpose of adopting district plans; provided that in-person meetings shall not be required if such meetings would violate a public health order;

Conduct all meetings pursuant to the requirements of the Open Meetings Act; and compile, index, maintain and provide public access to the committee's record for each district plan it adopts.

Beginning no later than July 1, 2021, and August 1 of each year ending in the number zero thereafter, the committee may: develop and adopt procedures for public hearings; and hire staff and enter into contracts and any interagency agreements, including agreements to provide for professional technical or legal services, as necessary to accomplish the duties set forth in this section.

APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR: The Legislature will meet in special session before the end of 2021 to review the district maps recommended by the CRC. The Legislature can amend the maps. Like any other legislation, the Governor will have to sign off on the maps passed by the Legislature.