Minnesota Redistricting - Past & Future Forum Held March 28

LWV of Dakota County hosted a public forum regarding redistricting in Minnesota on March 28 in Burnsville. Due to being caught in a committee meeting, Rep. Laurie Halverson (51B) arrived about halfway through and Rep. Pat Garofalo (58B) was unable to make it. However, Justice Paul Anderson (retired) regaled us with his remarks and Sen. Jim Carlson (51) graciously stepped in to offer his insight into the issue.

The event was recorded by Burnsville Community Television. Video of the forum will be rebroadcast in Burnsville on channels 16 and 859 (Comcast) and is available below:

Current Status of Minnesota Redistricting Bills

SF 582 would establish redistricting principles and a 5-member advisory commission consisting of retired judges that would draft redistricting plans and submit them to the legislature. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill March 13. The companion bill, HF 1018 was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill as well, on March 6.

SF 2255 would propose a constitutional amendment that would establish redistricting principles and create a 4-member commission consisting of the leadership of the two largest parties in each chamber, that would draft a redistricting plan and adopt that plan via a 3/4 vote. The bill was recommended to pass March 13. The companion bill, HF 2421, has not received a hearing in the House.

SF 2233 would propose a constitutional amendment that would create a 5-member redistricting commission consisting of retired judges that would adopt redistricting principles and adopt a redistricting plan by majority vote. The bill has not received a hearing in the Senate. The companion bill, HF 1855, was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill on March 6.

HF 1605 would establish redistricting principles and create a 17-member advisory commission that would draft redistricting plans and submit them to the legislature. The commission would be composed of 5 retired judges and 12 members of the general public. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill on March 6, but there is no companion bill in the Senate.

For a bill to survive, it must generally be acted upon favorably by a committee in either chamber by March 15, and then be acted upon favorably by a committee in the other chamber by March 29, pursuant to HC 1 and Joint Rule 2.03.

March 2019 Member/Public Meeting

The main topic at our March meeting was the LWV Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues (CMAL) consensus study on Metropolitan Council structure and governance. We learned about CMAL and its current study on the Met Council. Also, members were given the opportunity to vote on the positions explained within the study starting on page 14.

Members who were unable to attend are strongly encouraged to read the study and vote so that your voice is heard in updating CMAL's policy positions regarding the Met Council's structure and governance. The slides from the meeting are available below, broken into two parts. Video of the meeting is available below the slides. Those who were unable to attend will be provided a means to vote electronically. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us!