The state Senate is passing a bill that directs the legislative redistricting committee to respect political boundaries, like counties, reservations, and municipalities.
Republican State Senator Jim Bolin, of Canton, is the prime sponsor of the bill. He was a member of the legislative redistricting committee a decade ago.
“These two basic fundamental building blocks of local government, their boundaries will be respected,” Bolin says. “Then, there was an amendment that added that we’d do the same for reservations. Which, I can tell you this, we did ten years ago. I can’t speak beyond, going back 30, 40 years. Clearly, it was accomplished ten years ago.”
Review of legislative districts begins once Census data is released. Initial information will arrive by the end of April.
Bolin says township data may not be available until the end of July. He says that will set up an intense redistricting process during the months of August through October.
