1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to redistricting; establishing an advisory citizens' redistricting commission; 
1.3 	establishing redistricting principles and redistricting requirements; proposing a 
1.4 	constitutional amendment to establish an independent citizens' redistricting 
1.5 	commission; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.6 	Statutes, chapters 2A; 204B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 2.91, 
1.7 	subdivision 1.
1.8 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9 	ARTICLE 1
1.10 	CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT; INDEPENDENT CITIZENS' REDISTRICTING 
1.11 	COMMISSION

1.12 	Section 1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED.
 1.13 	An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the amendment 
1.14 	is adopted, article IV, section 3, will read:

1.15 	Sec. 3. At its first session After each enumeration of the inhabitants of this state made 
1.16 	by the authority of the United States, the legislature Independent Citizens' Redistricting 
1.17 	Commission established in article XV shall have the power to prescribe the bounds of 
1.18 	congressional and legislative districts. Senators shall be chosen by single districts of 
1.19 	convenient contiguous territory. No representative district shall be divided in the formation 
1.20 	of a senate district. The senate districts shall be numbered in a regular series.
1.21 	Article XV shall be added to read:
2.1 	ARTICLE XV
2.2 	REDISTRICTING

2.3 	Section 1.After each enumeration of the inhabitants of this state by the authority of the 
2.4 	United States, a citizens' redistricting commission made up of public members shall adopt 
2.5 	boundaries of congressional and legislative districts in accordance with this article.
2.6 	By April 1 of each year ending in zero the secretary of state shall open a widely publicized 
2.7 	process and circulate applications in a manner that encourages wide public participation of 
2.8 	eligible residents from different regions of the state to apply for membership on the 
2.9 	commission.
2.10 	Applications shall be made available in both electronic and printed forms, in formats 
2.11 	accessible for people with disabilities. Applications must be available in commonly spoken 
2.12 	languages in the state in addition to English. Applications are public data and shall be made 
2.13 	available and posted electronically by the secretary of state. Applications must be received 
2.14 	by June 1 of each year ending in zero.
2.15 	The Independent Citizens' Redistricting Commission shall be created no later than 
2.16 	September 1, 2030, and in each year ending in the number zero thereafter.
2.17 	The Independent Citizens' Redistricting Commission consists of 15 public members 
2.18 	selected to be reasonably representative of this state's diversity, as follows: five members 
2.19 	identifying with the largest political party in the state, five members identifying with the 
2.20 	second largest political party in the state, and five members identifying with no political 
2.21 	party or with a political party that is not the largest or second largest registered political 
2.22 	party in Minnesota.
2.23 	A public member shall be appointed in a manner prescribed by law. The legislature may 
2.24 	provide for additional eligibility requirements and prohibitions by law.
2.25 	The Independent Citizens' Redistricting Commission shall:
2.26 	(1) conduct an open and transparent process enabling full public consideration of and 
2.27 	comment on the drawing of district lines;
2.28 	(2) draw district lines according to the redistricting criteria specified in this article; and
2.29 	(3) conduct themselves with integrity and fairness.

2.30 	Sec. 2.The selection process is designed to produce a commission consisting of public 
2.31 	members that is independent from legislative influence and reasonably representative of 
2.32 	Minnesota's diversity.
3.1 	Ten members of the commission shall constitute a quorum including at least one member 
3.2 	identifying with the largest political party in the state, one member identifying with the 
3.3 	second largest political party in the state, and one member identifying with no political party 
3.4 	or with a political party that is not the largest or second largest registered political party in 
3.5 	Minnesota.
3.6 	Two-thirds or more affirmative votes shall be required for any official action, including 
3.7 	at least one member identifying with the largest political party in the state, one member 
3.8 	identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and one member identifying 
3.9 	with no political party or with a political party that is not the largest or second largest 
3.10 	registered political party in Minnesota. Administrative actions including calling to order, 
3.11 	adjourning, scheduling hearings, and other such actions shall require the approval of a 
3.12 	majority of commissioners.
3.13 	A commission member is ineligible for a period of ten years beginning from expiration 
3.14 	of the commission to hold elective public office at the state, county, or city level in 
3.15 	Minnesota.
3.16 	A member of the commission shall be ineligible for a period of five years beginning 
3.17 	from the date of appointment to serve as paid staff for, or as a paid consultant to, the United 
3.18 	States Congress, the legislature, or any individual legislator, or to register as a federal or 
3.19 	state lobbyist in this state.

3.20 	Sec. 3.After notice and a public meeting, the commission may remove a commissioner 
3.21 	for cause. Removal of a member must be by a two-thirds affirmative vote and must include 
3.22 	at least one vote from a member identifying with the largest political party in the state, one 
3.23 	vote from a member identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and one 
3.24 	vote from a member identifying with no political party or with a political party that is not 
3.25 	the largest or second largest. If the basis for the commissioner's removal is the commissioner's 
3.26 	refusal to vote as part of a collective effort to disrupt the process or vote of the commission, 
3.27 	that member or members may be removed after a finding by the chair as described in this 
3.28 	section and a two-thirds vote of those commissioners present. An individual or official 
3.29 	identified by law must fill vacancies on the commission by appointment at an open meeting 
3.30 	in the same manner as the initial appointment.

3.31 	Sec. 4.The commission shall determine its own rules of procedure, including adoption 
3.32 	of policy regarding disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. In addition to other duties 
3.33 	prescribed by law, the commission shall:
4.1 	(1) adopt procedures and rules to carry out the provisions of this article and any laws 
4.2 	enacted by the legislature, including the procurement for securing professional services;
4.3 	(2) inform the legislature if the commission determines that funds or other resources 
4.4 	provided for the operation of the commission are not adequate;
4.5 	(3) act as the recipient of the final redistricting data and relevant files from the United 
4.6 	States Census Bureau;
4.7 	(4) comply with requirements to disclose and preserve public records;
4.8 	(5) hold open public meetings and public hearings;
4.9 	(6) provide reasonable advance notice of any public meeting or public hearing. The 
4.10 	notice and agenda must be posted electronically by the commission. The commission may 
4.11 	partner with community-based nonpartisan organizations in an effort to disseminate the 
4.12 	notice to directly impacted communities;
4.13 	(7) publish a draft agenda at least 72 hours before each public meeting or hearing;
4.14 	(8) electronically publish a preliminary draft of each plan and an accompanying report 
4.15 	at least ten business days before the relevant public meeting or public hearing and accept 
4.16 	comments on the plan for at least one week after the meeting; and
4.17 	(9) prepare and electronically publish reports as required by law.

4.18 	Sec. 5.Prior to adopting a legislative or congressional districting plan, the commission 
4.19 	must hold a minimum of 24 public hearings in different regions of the state, including at 
4.20 	least 12 hearings in Greater Minnesota. At least eight hearings must be held before adopting 
4.21 	preliminary drafts of legislative or congressional district plans. The primary purpose of the 
4.22 	public hearings prior to the release of the preliminary plans is to request public input on 
4.23 	how to define communities of interest and to provide an opportunity for public comment 
4.24 	from residents of that part of the state. The commission shall conduct its hearings in a manner 
4.25 	that invites broad public participation throughout the state, including by using technology 
4.26 	to broadcast commission meetings and receive public comment, scheduling hearings at a 
4.27 	variety of times of day, and providing translation and other accommodations to facilitate 
4.28 	meaningful participation from a range of Minnesotans.

4.29 	Sec. 6.The commission must elect a chair and vice chair from among its members by 
4.30 	the majority of commission members, including at least one member identifying with the 
4.31 	largest political party in the state, one member identifying with the second largest political 
4.32 	party in the state, and one member identifying with no political party or with a political 
5.1 	party that is not the largest or second largest. The chair and vice-chair shall not self-identify 
5.2 	as belonging to the same political party.

5.3 	Sec. 7.The commission shall be compensated as prescribed in law and must be provided 
5.4 	the services of nonpartisan experts, consultants, and support staff, including a general counsel 
5.5 	with experience and expertise in voting and elections law, including the federal Voting 
5.6 	Rights Act of 1965, as amended or its successor, as is necessary to carry out its duties 
5.7 	pursuant to this article and those prescribed by law.

5.8 	Sec. 8.A commissioner must not direct, request, suggest, or recommend an interpretation 
5.9 	of a districting principle or a change to a district boundary to commission staff except during 
5.10 	an open public meeting or public hearing of the commission. Communication between 
5.11 	retained counsel and members of the commission or the designated commission staff does 
5.12 	not violate this section.

5.13 	Sec. 9.The commission shall use census data representing the entire population of this 
5.14 	state to draw congressional and legislative districts. Except when required by law or for the 
5.15 	purposes of drawing districts in compliance with the provisions of state or federal law, 
5.16 	citizen voting age or citizen population must not be used as the method to calculate population 
5.17 	equality. Demographic trends provided by the Minnesota state demographer and relevant 
5.18 	election data may be considered in development of maps. Incarcerated persons must be 
5.19 	counted at their last known residence before incarceration.

5.20 	Sec. 10.By September 15, 2031, and in each year ending in the number one thereafter, 
5.21 	the commission shall approve three final plans that separately set the district boundary lines 
5.22 	for the United States House of Representatives federal congressional districts and the state 
5.23 	house and senate districts. Upon approval, the commission shall certify the three final plans 
5.24 	to the secretary of state.
5.25 	With each of three final plans, the commission shall issue a report that explains the basis 
5.26 	on which the commission made its decisions in achieving compliance with the principles 
5.27 	listed in this article and shall include definitions of the terms and standards used in drawing 
5.28 	each final plan. The final plans and reports shall be made public and posted electronically.
5.29 	If the commission adopts a legislative or congressional redistricting plan, the plan must 
5.30 	be approved by two-thirds of the commission, including at least one member identifying 
5.31 	with the largest political party in the state, one member identifying with the second largest 
5.32 	political party in the state, and one member identifying with no political party or with a 
5.33 	political party that is not the largest or second largest. Upon final adoption of a plan, the 
5.34 	chair of the commission must file the plan with the secretary of state. The plan becomes 
6.1 	effective for the following election upon filing with the secretary of state. The commission 
6.2 	must also electronically publish the adopted plans and the related reports.

6.3 	Sec. 11.If, for any reason, the commission does not adopt a final plan for congressional 
6.4 	or legislative districts by October 1 of the year ending in one, the commission shall use the 
6.5 	following procedure to adopt a plan for that type of district.
6.6 	Each commissioner may submit one proposed plan for each type of district to the full 
6.7 	commission for consideration.
6.8 	Each commissioner shall rank the plans submitted according to preference. Each plan 
6.9 	shall be assigned a point value inverse to its ranking among the number of choices, giving 
6.10 	the lowest ranked plan one point and the highest ranked plan a point value equal to the 
6.11 	number of plans submitted.
6.12 	The commission shall adopt the plan receiving the highest total points that is also ranked 
6.13 	among the top half of plans by at least two commissioners not affiliated with the party of 
6.14 	the commissioner submitting the plan, or in the case of a plan submitted by a nonaffiliated 
6.15 	commissioner, is ranked among the top half of plans by at least two commissioners affiliated 
6.16 	with a major party. If two or more plans are tied for the highest point total, the final maps 
6.17 	shall be selected by lot from those plans.

6.18 	Sec. 12.Within 30 days of the adoption of a plan by the commission or a court order 
6.19 	establishing both a legislative plan and a congressional plan, the Independent Citizens' 
6.20 	Redistricting Commission must submit a report to the chief clerk of the house of 
6.21 	representatives and the secretary of the senate. At a minimum, the report must include a 
6.22 	summary of the commission's work and any recommended changes to laws affecting the 
6.23 	redistricting process, duties, role, or function of the commission. A commissioner who voted 
6.24 	against a redistricting plan may submit a dissenting report, which shall be issued with the 
6.25 	commission's report. The commission must also submit this report to the governor and 
6.26 	publish the report electronically.

6.27 	Sec. 13.The commission has the sole legal standing to defend any action regarding a 
6.28 	certified final plans. The commission has sole authority to determine whether the attorney 
6.29 	general or other legal counsel retained by the commission shall represent the commission 
6.30 	and assist in the defense of a certified final plans. The legislature shall provide necessary 
6.31 	funding to defend any action regarding a certified plan.

6.32 	Sec. 14.The Minnesota Supreme Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction in all 
6.33 	proceedings in which a certified final map is challenged or is claimed not to have taken 
6.34 	timely effect.
7.1 	Within 45 days after the commission has certified a final map to the secretary of state, 
7.2 	any registered voter in this state may file a petition for a writ of mandate or writ of prohibition 
7.3 	to bar the secretary of state from implementing the plan on the grounds that the filed plan 
7.4 	violates this constitution, the United States Constitution, or any federal or state statute.
7.5 	The Minnesota Supreme Court shall give priority to ruling on a petition for a writ of 
7.6 	mandate or a writ of prohibition filed pursuant to this section. If the court determines that 
7.7 	a final certified map violates this constitution, the United States Constitution, or any federal 
7.8 	or state statute, the court must direct that the commission draft a remedial plan.

7.9 	Sec. 15.The commission expires upon the appointment of the subsequent commission 
7.10 	in ordinary course, or ten years after it was constituted. If a court enjoins the use of a plan, 
7.11 	the court must direct that the commission draft a remedial plan in accordance with deadlines 
7.12 	established by the court's order.

7.13 	Sec. 16.The prohibitions and principles in this section apply to both legislative and 
7.14 	congressional districts.
7.15 	Districts must not be drawn to violate the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the 
7.16 	United States Constitution or the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.
7.17 	Districts must not be drawn to intentionally favor or disfavor a candidate or incumbent.
7.18 	Districts must not be drawn using voter registration, voter turnout, voting history, party 
7.19 	preference, including participation in the presidential nominating primary, general election, 
7.20 	voting patterns, primary voting patterns, except for the purposes of verifying the compliance 
7.21 	of maps with the requirements of this section and of issuing the reports required by law;
7.22 	Districts must not be drawn using the location of incumbents' or candidates' residences.
7.23 	Districts must not be drawn using any data regarding the partisan affiliation or possible 
7.24 	partisan affiliation of any voter or group of voters.
7.25 	Districts must not be drawn with the effect of unduly favoring or disfavoring any political 
7.26 	party. Districts shall be subjected to a test of partisan fairness using the standard of 
7.27 	proportionality as the benchmark for fairness. Using four recent statewide elections, any 
7.28 	proposed Congressional or legislative plan must be close to achieving major-party seat share 
7.29 	proportional to the corresponding share of the popular vote in at least three out of the four 
7.30 	contests. The standard of closeness is one seat for Congressional contests and seven 
7.31 	percentage points for legislative contests. If a plan fails to meet this standard, it triggers a 
7.32 	rebuttable presumption of excessive partisan advantage. This may be rebutted if it is 
8.1 	determined that the degree of disproportionality was necessary in order to reasonably balance 
8.2 	the rules and criteria in effect for redistricting.
8.3 	Districts must be drawn in accordance with the principles in this section. If districts 
8.4 	cannot be drawn fully in accordance with the principles, a districting plan must give priority 
8.5 	to those principles in the order in which they are listed, except when doing so would violate 
8.6 	federal law.
8.7 	Each congressional district must be as nearly equal in population as practicable.
8.8 	Each legislative district must be substantially equal in population. The population of a 
8.9 	legislative district must not deviate by more than five percent from the population of the 
8.10 	ideal district.
8.11 	Districts must not be drawn with either the purpose or effect of denying or abridging 
8.12 	the voting rights of any Minnesotan because of race, ethnicity, or membership in a language 
8.13 	minority group.
8.14 	Districts shall be drawn to protect the equal opportunity of racial, ethnic, and language 
8.15 	minorities to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of their choice, 
8.16 	whether alone or in coalition with others.
8.17 	Districts must provide racial minorities and language minorities who constitute less than 
8.18 	a voting-age majority of a district with an equal opportunity to substantially influence the 
8.19 	outcome of an election.
8.20 	A representative district must not be divided in the formation of a senate district.
8.21 	The reservation lands of a federally recognized Native Nation must be preserved to the 
8.22 	extent practicable. Discontiguous portions of a federally recognized Native Nation's 
8.23 	reservation lands must be included in the same district and must not be divided more than 
8.24 	necessary to meet constitutional requirements.
8.25 	Districts must minimize the division of identifiable communities of interest. A community 
8.26 	of interest may include a racial, ethnic, or linguistic group or any group with shared 
8.27 	experiences and concerns, including but not limited to geographic, governmental, regional, 
8.28 	social, cultural, historic, socioeconomic, occupational, trade, environmental, or transportation 
8.29 	interests. Communities of interest shall not include relationships with political parties, 
8.30 	incumbents, or candidates.
8.31 	Each district must be convenient and contiguous. A district is convenient if it allows 
8.32 	reasonable ease of travel within the district. Contiguity by water is sufficient if the water is 
9.1 	not a serious obstacle to travel within the district. A district with areas that touch only at a 
9.2 	point is not contiguous.
9.3 	Districts must minimize the division of counties, cities, and towns, except when (1) the 
9.4 	division occurs because a portion of a city or town is not contiguous with another portion 
9.5 	of the same city or town, or (2) despite the division, the known population of any affected 
9.6 	county, city, or town, remains wholly located within a single district.

9.7 	Sec. 2. SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
 9.8 	The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2024 general election. 
9.9 	The question submitted must be:
9.10 	"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to establish a citizens' redistricting 
9.11 	commission that is independent of the legislature to draw legislative and congressional 
9.12 	redistricting plans?

9.13		Yes ........
		
9.14		No ........
	"

9.15 	ARTICLE 2
9.16 	ENABLING LEGISLATION

9.17 	Section 1. [2A.20] INDEPENDENT CITIZENS' REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.
9.18 	(a) Sections 2A.20 to 2A.25 implement Article XV of the Minnesota Constitution by 
9.19 	establishing the process for the selection and governance of the Independent Citizens' 
9.20 	Redistricting Commission.
9.21 	(b) For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the meanings given:
9.22 	(1) "commission" means the Independent Citizens' Redistricting Commission;
9.23 	(2) "day" means a calendar day, except that if the final day of a period within which an 
9.24 	act is to be performed is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the period is extended to the next 
9.25 	day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday; and
9.26 	(3) "panel" means the Applicant Review Panel.

9.27 	Sec. 2. [2A.21] INDEPENDENT CITIZENS' REDISTRICTING COMMISSION 
9.28 	SELECTION PROCESS.
9.29 	(a) The application and appointment process for members of the commission shall be 
9.30 	the process described in this section, except as otherwise provided by this section.
10.1 	(b) By April 1 of each year ending in zero, the secretary of state shall open a widely 
10.2 	publicized process and circulate applications in a manner that encourages wide public 
10.3 	participation of eligible residents from different regions of the state to apply for membership 
10.4 	on the commission.
10.5 	(c) Applications shall be made available in both electronic and printed forms, in formats 
10.6 	accessible for people with disabilities.
10.7 	(d) Applications must be available in the top three most spoken languages in the state 
10.8 	in addition to English.
10.9 	(e) Applications are public data under chapter 13 and shall be made available on the 
10.10 	secretary of state's website or comparable means of communicating with the public. 
10.11 	Applications must be received by June 1 of the year ending in zero.
10.12 	(f) The secretary of state shall design and provide an application form that must clearly 
10.13 	state the legal obligations and expectations of potential appointees. Information required of 
10.14 	applicants must include but is not limited to:
10.15 	(1) a statement from applicants affirming they meet the requirements of paragraph (i);
10.16 	(2) an oath affirming the applicant submits application under oath declaring the 
10.17 	truthfulness of its contents under penalty of perjury;
10.18 	(3) the applicant's demographic information, including but not limited to gender, race, 
10.19 	ethnicity, and year of birth;
10.20 	(4) the applicant's professional background;
10.21 	(5) the applicant's past experience working with others to build consensus;
10.22 	(6) the applicant's level of understanding about Minnesota communities, neighborhoods, 
10.23 	geographic regions, or demographics across the state;
10.24 	(7) a description of the applicant's past political activity;
10.25 	(8) a list of all political and civic organizations to which the applicant has belonged 
10.26 	within the five years prior to the application;
10.27 	(9) a statement indicating which political party the applicant identifies with, or that the 
10.28 	applicant identifies with no party. For purposes of this clause, identifying with a political 
10.29 	party means that the applicant is in general agreement with the principles of that party; and
10.30 	(10) any other information required to determine eligibility to serve on the commission.
11.1 	(g) The secretary of state must review applications to ensure that they are complete and 
11.2 	that the applicants have signed the oath affirming that the applicant submits the application 
11.3 	under oath declaring the truthfulness of its contents under penalty of perjury. The secretary 
11.4 	of state must forward the completed application of each eligible person to the executive 
11.5 	director of the Legislative Coordinating Commission no later than June 15 of the year ending 
11.6 	in zero.
11.7 	(h) The secretary of state must not forward an application that is incomplete or an 
11.8 	application of a person who has not signed the oath attesting to the accuracy of the 
11.9 	information contained in the application. If the secretary of state does not forward an 
11.10 	application, the secretary of state must notify the applicant that the applicant's application 
11.11 	was not forwarded and the reason why.
11.12 	(i) The Legislative Coordinating Commission's executive director shall remove from 
11.13 	the applicant pool those individuals who do not qualify, including:
11.14 	(1) a person who has not resided in Minnesota for at least one year prior to their 
11.15 	application submission;
11.16 	(2) a current member of the legislature or Congress;
11.17 	(3) a person under contract with, or who has served as a consultant or staff to, or who 
11.18 	has or has had an immediate family relationship with the governor, a member of the 
11.19 	legislature, or a member of Congress during the ten years immediately preceding the date 
11.20 	of application;
11.21 	(4) a person who serves or has served during the ten years immediately preceding the 
11.22 	date of application as a public official, as defined in section 10A.01, subdivision 35, clauses 
11.23 	(1) to (5), (12), (13), (16), (26), and (27); and
11.24 	(5) a person, or member of the person's immediate family, who during the ten years 
11.25 	immediately preceding the date of application has:
11.26 	(i) been appointed to, elected to, or been a candidate for federal or state office;
11.27 	(ii) served as an officer, employee, contractor, or paid consultant of a political party or 
11.28 	of the campaign committee of a candidate for elective federal or state office;
11.29 	(iii) served as an elected or appointed member of a political party state committee, as 
11.30 	defined by section 10A.01, subdivision 36, or a delegate to a national convention of a 
11.31 	political party;
12.1 	(iv) registered as a lobbyist, registrant, or client with the federal government under the 
12.2 	Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, as amended or as a state lobbyist or principal with the 
12.3 	Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board under chapter 10A;
12.4 	(v) served as paid congressional or legislative staff; or
12.5 	(vi) been found by the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to have violated 
12.6 	section 10A.27.
12.7 	(j) After serving on the commission, commissioners must not campaign for elective 
12.8 	office or actively participate in or contribute to a political campaign nor run for state or 
12.9 	local political office for a period of up to ten years after the commission expires.
12.10 	(k) For the purposes of this subdivision, a member of a person's immediate family means 
12.11 	a sibling, spouse, parent, including half, step, and in-law relationships.
12.12 	(l) No later than June 1 of the year ending in zero, the Legislative Coordinating 
12.13 	Commission executive director shall form a Redistricting Advisory Group consisting of the 
12.14 	executive directors of the Minnesota Latino Affairs Council, Council for Minnesotans of 
12.15 	African Heritage, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the Council on Asian Pacific 
12.16 	Minnesotans, the Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans, Minnesota Youth Council, the 
12.17 	Minnesota Council on Disabilities, and Minnesota Commission of Deaf, Deafblind and 
12.18 	Hard of Hearing. The Redistricting Advisory Group shall serve as advisors to the Legislative 
12.19 	Coordinating Commission executive director in the process described in paragraphs (m), 
12.20 	(n), and (r), and to the Redistricting Commission in the processes in section 2A.23, 
12.21 	subdivision 1, paragraph (i). The Redistricting Advisory Group shall serve as advisors to 
12.22 	the Legislative Coordinating Commission executive director to foster diversity of applicant 
12.23 	pools throughout the process, and in their role as experts on matters pertaining to their 
12.24 	respective communities in advising the commission. Members of the Redistricting Advisory 
12.25 	Group are expected to participate in a nonpartisan manner and serve without predisposition 
12.26 	or bias on issues related to the state's representation for redistricting boundaries. However, 
12.27 	it is not intended that formulas or specific ratios be applied for this purpose. The process 
12.28 	and criteria for determining if additional entities not listed in this paragraph should be added 
12.29 	shall be determined by the commission during the creation of its own rules and order.
12.30 	(m) By June 15 of the year ending in zero, the Legislative Coordinating Commission 
12.31 	executive director shall establish an Applicant Interview Panel, consisting of four randomly 
12.32 	selected legislative members of the Legislative Coordinating Commission and the 
12.33 	Redistricting Advisory Group, that is responsible for interviewing selected applicants. The 
12.34 	Legislative Coordinating Commission legislative members shall consist of one member of 
13.1 	the house of representatives majority party, one member of the house of representatives 
13.2 	minority party, one member of the senate majority party, and one member of the senate 
13.3 	minority party sitting on the Legislative Coordinating Commission. If any of the legislative 
13.4 	members are unable to serve on the Applicant Review Panel, the Legislative Coordinating 
13.5 	Commission executive director shall replace that member by randomly drawing from that 
13.6 	member's chamber and party sitting on the Legislative Coordinating Commission. The 
13.7 	members of the panel shall not communicate with any senator, member of the house of 
13.8 	representatives, congressional member, their representatives, or any representative of a 
13.9 	political party about any matter related to the nomination process or applicants prior to the 
13.10 	presentation by the panel of the pool of recommended applicants to the Secretary of the 
13.11 	Minnesota Senate and the Chief Clerk of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
13.12 	(n) By July 1 of the year ending in zero, the Legislative Coordinating Commission 
13.13 	executive director, in consultation with the Redistricting Advisory Group, must identify 
13.14 	three applicant pools: one pool of 20 applicants identifying with the largest political party 
13.15 	in the state; one pool of 20 applicants identifying with the second largest political party in 
13.16 	the state; and one pool of 20 applicants identifying with no political party or a political party 
13.17 	that is not the largest or second largest political party in the state. Selections must be based 
13.18 	on a review of each applicant's relevant analytical skills, the applicant's ability to be impartial, 
13.19 	and the applicant's ability to promote consensus on the commission and appreciation for 
13.20 	Minnesota's diverse demographics, communities, and geography as documented in the 
13.21 	application. To the extent practicable, the process implemented by the executive director 
13.22 	must ensure that each applicant pool reflects the gender, socioeconomic, age, racial, language, 
13.23 	ethnic, and geographic diversity of the state. Each congressional district must be represented 
13.24 	by at least two applicants in each applicant pool.
13.25 	(o) If there is an insufficient number of available applicants to select a 20-applicant pool, 
13.26 	then the pool consists of only those applicants who did meet the requirements.
13.27 	(p) By July 1 of the year ending in zero, the Legislative Coordinating Commission 
13.28 	executive director shall convene the Applicant Interview Panel and begin the interview 
13.29 	process.
13.30 	(q) The role of the Applicant Interview Panel is to work with the Legislative Coordinating 
13.31 	Commission's executive director in conducting applicant interviews, and design an objective 
13.32 	rating system to assess and measure applicants' relevant analytical skills, the ability to be 
13.33 	impartial, and the ability to promote consensus on the commission and appreciation for 
13.34 	Minnesota's diverse demographics, communities, and geography as documented in the 
14.1 	application. Interviews of the commission applicants shall be complete by August 1 of the 
14.2 	year ending in zero.
14.3 	(r) No later than August 8 of the year ending in zero, the Legislative Coordinating 
14.4 	Commission executive director shall have ranked the applicants in each pool from one to 
14.5 	20 based on the applicant interviews and applications. The final pool of applicants must 
14.6 	consist of the top candidates scored from each of the following: top ten ranked who identify 
14.7 	with the largest political party in the state, top ten ranked identifying with the second largest 
14.8 	political party in the state, and top ten ranked identifying with no political party or with a 
14.9 	political party that is not the largest or second largest registered with the largest political 
14.10 	party in Minnesota. The Legislative Coordinating Commission executive director must 
14.11 	consult with the Redistricting Advisory Group to ensure the selected applicants reflect the 
14.12 	diversity as to gender, socioeconomic, age, racial, language, ethnic, and geographic diversity 
14.13 	of the state as is practicable.
14.14 	(s) No later than August 15 in each year ending in the number zero, the names for the 
14.15 	final pool of applicants shall be selected by lot drawn by the executive director from the 
14.16 	list of top ten applicants as follows: three identifying with the largest political party in the 
14.17 	state, three identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and three identifying 
14.18 	with no political party or with a political party that is not the largest or second largest 
14.19 	registered with the largest political party in Minnesota. These nine individuals shall serve 
14.20 	on the Independent Citizens' Redistricting Commission.
14.21 	(t) No later than September 1 in each year ending in the number zero, the nine 
14.22 	commissioners shall convene and assess its demographic and geographic diversity of the 
14.23 	nine members and must review and select six more applicants from the remaining top ten 
14.24 	applicants as follows: two from the remaining subpool of applicants identifying with the 
14.25 	largest political party in Minnesota, two from the remaining subpool of applicants identifying 
14.26 	with the second largest political party in Minnesota, and two from the remaining subpool 
14.27 	of applicants identifying with no political party or with a political party that is not the largest 
14.28 	or second largest registered with the largest political party in Minnesota. The six appointees 
14.29 	must be approved by at least two-thirds affirmative votes, which must include at least two 
14.30 	votes of commissioners registered from each of the two largest parties and one vote from 
14.31 	a commissioner who is not affiliated with either of the two largest political parties in 
14.32 	Minnesota. The six appointees shall be chosen to ensure the commission reflects this state's 
14.33 	diversity, including but not limited to racial, ethnic, geographic, and gender diversity. It is 
14.34 	not intended that formulas or specific ratios be applied for this purpose.
15.1 	(u) Before serving on the Independent Citizens' Redistricting Commission, every 
15.2 	commissioner shall take and subscribe an oath to faithfully perform the duties of that office. 
15.3 	The oath must be filed with the secretary of state.

15.4 	Sec. 3. [2A.22] REMOVAL; FILLING VACANCIES.
15.5 	(a) Each commissioner shall serve for the entire term of the commission unless the 
15.6 	commissioner is removed or otherwise vacates the office.
15.7 	(b) A commissioner's position on the commission is deemed vacant if the commissioner, 
15.8 	having been appointed as a registered elector who is not affiliated with a political party, 
15.9 	affiliates with a political party before the commission has approved a plan pursuant to section 
15.10 	2A.23, subdivision 21. A commissioner's position on the commission is deemed vacant if 
15.11 	the commissioner, having been affiliated with one of the state's two largest political parties 
15.12 	at the time of appointment, affiliates with a different political party or becomes unaffiliated 
15.13 	with any political party before the commission has approved a plan pursuant to section 
15.14 	2A.23, subdivision 21.
15.15 	(c) Removal of an officer from their officer position requires a two-thirds affirmative 
15.16 	vote with at least one commissioner identifying with the largest political party in the state, 
15.17 	one commissioner identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and one 
15.18 	commissioner identifying with no political party or with a political party that is not the 
15.19 	largest or second largest in the state.
15.20 	(d) Removal of a member takes place immediately after a finding by the chair and must 
15.21 	be by a two-thirds affirmative vote of all members of the commission, including at least 
15.22 	one member identifying with the largest political party in the state, one member identifying 
15.23 	with the second largest political party in the state, and one member identifying with no 
15.24 	political party or with a political party that is not the largest or second largest in the state. 
15.25 	If the basis for the commissioner's removal is the commissioner's refusal to vote as part of 
15.26 	a collective effort to disrupt the process or vote of the commission, that member or members 
15.27 	may be removed after a finding by the chair as described in this section and a two-thirds 
15.28 	vote of those commissioners present.
15.29 	(e) After notice and a hearing, the commission may also remove a commissioner for 
15.30 	malfeasance or nonfeasance during the term of service in the performance of the duties of 
15.31 	the redistricting commission, or for missing three consecutive meetings. After the second 
15.32 	consecutive missed meeting and before the next meeting, the chair or a designee must notify 
15.33 	the commissioner in writing that the member may be removed for missing the next meeting. 
15.34 	The definitions in section 211C.01 apply to this subdivision.
16.1 	(f) The chair must submit a written notice to the Legislative Coordinating Commission 
16.2 	executive director, stating the grounds another member's office should be declared vacant. 
16.3 	This written notice shall: (1) be dated and signed; and (2) provide a detailed factual basis 
16.4 	in support of the allegations causing the removal of another member. The factual basis shall 
16.5 	include the specific facts and factual foundation on which the removal is based. Supporting 
16.6 	documentation, if any, shall be included.
16.7 	(g) Any vacancy on the commission, including one that occurs due to death, mental 
16.8 	incapacity, resignation, criminal conviction of a serious crime, removal, failure to meet the 
16.9 	qualifications of appointment, refusal or inability to accept an appointment, or having been 
16.10 	found to have participated in a communication prohibited by law must be filled as soon as 
16.11 	possible, but no later than seven days, by the Legislative Coordinating Commission executive 
16.12 	director from the designated pool of eligible applicants for that commissioner's position and 
16.13 	in the same manner as the originally chosen commissioner. No commissioner chosen to fill 
16.14 	a vacancy would be bypassed for appointment if all congressional districts are represented 
16.15 	by at least one commissioner. If no remaining finalists are available for service, the secretary 
16.16 	of state shall open the application process again and the executive director of the Legislative 
16.17 	Coordinating Commission shall establish a new list of applicants.

16.18 	Sec. 4. [2A.23] PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES.
16.19 		Subdivision 1.Duties. (a) Each commissioner shall perform their duties in a manner 
16.20 	that is impartial and reinforces public confidence in the integrity of the redistricting process. 
16.21 	Each commissioner shall: (1) attend nonpartisan redistricting training held by a nationally 
16.22 	recognized nonpartisan organization; and (2) attend training on the Minnesota Data Practice 
16.23 	Act and Open Meetings Act. In addition to other duties prescribed by law, the commission 
16.24 	shall determine its own rules and order. Within ten weeks of being established, the 
16.25 	commission must adopt administrative rules to govern the commission's process. The rules 
16.26 	must be adopted at an open meeting, with advance notice of the meeting, and members of 
16.27 	the public were provided with an opportunity to provide comment on the policy. Rules 
16.28 	adopted under this subdivision are not subject to chapter 14 or section 14.386.
16.29 	(b) A member who has a conflict of interest between personal interests and the public 
16.30 	interest in the role of a commission member in the process of securing staff, consultants, 
16.31 	general counsel, or any other professional services shall fully disclose the nature of the 
16.32 	conflict to the commission in writing soon as they have learned of the potential conflict of 
16.33 	interest. A commissioner shall disclose the presence of a conflict of interest or raise a 
16.34 	potential conflict of interest when the agenda item is called, prior to the start of discussion 
17.1 	or deliberation. Should a conflict of interest become clear during the discussion, the 
17.2 	commissioner may seek the opinion of the general counsel whether a conflict exists. This 
17.3 	opinion shall not be binding on the commission.
17.4 	(c) The commission shall decide, by a majority vote of commissioners present, whether 
17.5 	a conflict of interest exists. A vote may be tabled, if necessary, to obtain the opinion of the 
17.6 	general counsel if not present.
17.7 	(d) A member who has a conflict or potential conflict of interest, either on an issue being 
17.8 	discussed or in the procurement of staff, consultants, general counsel, or any other 
17.9 	professional services, shall not participate in the discussion or deliberation or vote upon 
17.10 	any matter regarding procurement of those professional services.
17.11 	(e) The commission shall adopt procedures and rules to carry out its responsibilities 
17.12 	under this chapter and other applicable law, including the procurement of professional 
17.13 	services, such as general counsel and other subject matter expert staff. Adoption of procedures 
17.14 	and rules under this subdivision is not subject to chapter 14 or section 14.386.
17.15 	(f) The commission shall act as the recipient of the final redistricting data and other 
17.16 	redistricting files from the United States Census Bureau.
17.17 	(g) The commission is subject to chapter 13 and section 138.17.
17.18 	(h) The commission is subject to chapter 13D.
17.19 	(i) The commission must work with the Redistricting Advisory Group to host a minimum 
17.20 	of eight community informational town halls across the state, allowing for basic information 
17.21 	regarding the role of the commission, how commission members were selected, and the 
17.22 	basics of redistricting.
17.23 	(j) The commission must provide public notice at least ten business days in advance of 
17.24 	any public meeting or public hearing. The notice and agenda must be posted on the 
17.25 	commission's website and published in local news sources and on social media. The public 
17.26 	notice shall also be disseminated leveraging social media, media frequently used by 
17.27 	disenfranchised Minnesotans, or other community-based communication channels. The 
17.28 	commission may also partner with community-based nonpartisan organizations in an effort 
17.29 	to more widely disseminate the notice to directly impacted communities. The notice and 
17.30 	agenda must be provided in all languages required for voting materials under section 
17.31 	204B.295, or the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, United States Code, title 52, section 
17.32 	10503.
18.1 	(k) The commission must publish a draft agenda at least seven days before each public 
18.2 	meeting or hearing.
18.3 	(l) The commission must prepare and publish a report no later than ten weeks after all 
18.4 	members of the commission are appointed that describes the commission's general priorities 
18.5 	and intentions for utilizing redistricting criteria in its decision-making process, including a 
18.6 	discussion on how the commission will balance competing requirements. The commission 
18.7 	must make this report electronically available before any public meeting or hearing. The 
18.8 	report shall be provided in all languages required for voting materials under section 204B.295, 
18.9 	or the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, United States Code, title 52, section 10503.
18.10 	(m) The commission must adopt a schedule for interested persons to submit proposed 
18.11 	plans and to respond to plans proposed by others. The redistricting commission shall also 
18.12 	adopt standards to govern the format of plans submitted. Adoption of the schedule and 
18.13 	standards under this subdivision is not subject to chapter 14 or section 14.386. The 
18.14 	redistricting commission must post submitted plans to its website as soon as practicable.
18.15 	(n) Consistent with other requirements of this chapter, the commission must provide 
18.16 	direction to commission staff on drawing maps.
18.17 	(o) Consistent with other requirements of this chapter, the commission must review and 
18.18 	direct modifications of maps to commission staff.
18.19 	(p) The commission must prepare and publish reports on the following:
18.20 	(1) all plans discussed by the full commission, including all publicly submitted plans 
18.21 	and draft plans;
18.22 	(2) a summary of all public input received in each comment period;
18.23 	(3) a summary of the data the commission used to create those plans;
18.24 	(4) analysis of the maps using redistricting metrics;
18.25 	(5) a written explanation if an alternate plan furthers constitutional and statutory 
18.26 	redistricting criteria more than the final plan selected by the redistricting commission; and
18.27 	(6) any other information that provides the basis on which the redistricting commission 
18.28 	made decisions to achieve compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
18.29 	(q) The commission must make reasonable efforts to schedule hearings in the evenings, 
18.30 	on weekends, and at other times that most residents in that region are able to attend.
18.31 	(r) The commission must, whenever possible, use technology that allows for real-time 
18.32 	virtual participation and feedback for all hearings. All audiovisual recordings of commission 
19.1 	public meetings and public hearings must be maintained on the commission's website 
19.2 	indefinitely.
19.3 	(s) The commission must make available translation and interpreter services for 
19.4 	limited-English-speaking individuals and those needing accommodations in compliance 
19.5 	with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The redistricting commission may contract with 
19.6 	an entity that provides interpreter services through telephonic and video remote technologies.
19.7 	(t) The commission must provide notices of the availability of both plans and reports in 
19.8 	all languages required for voting materials under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1964, 
19.9 	United States Code, title 52, section 10503, and as required for compliance with the 
19.10 	Americans with Disabilities Act for each congressional district.
19.11 		Subd. 2.Rules of order. Commission meetings shall be conducted according to the 
19.12 	current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, subject to any procedures to the 
19.13 	contrary set forth in this section, applicable law, or other rules adopted by the commission.
19.14 		Subd. 3.Quorum. (a) A quorum must be present to conduct the business of the 
19.15 	commission meetings and hold public hearings. The quorum shall consist of ten members, 
19.16 	including at least one member affiliated with each of the major parties and one nonaffiliated 
19.17 	member.
19.18 	(b) If there is not a quorum due to a collective effort by one or more commissioners to 
19.19 	disrupt the work, process, or vote of the commission, a quorum consists of the majority of 
19.20 	commissioners. The requirement for at least one member from each majority party and one 
19.21 	nonaffiliated member is not applicable under this circumstance.
19.22 		Subd. 4.Minutes. Minutes of all meetings, including votes on all official actions taken 
19.23 	at those meetings, shall be kept by the Legislative Coordinating Commission. All decisions 
19.24 	of the commission shall be recorded, and the record of its decisions shall be readily available 
19.25 	to any member of the public as required by law and shall be provided without charge.
19.26 		Subd. 5.Journal of proceedings. An account of all proceedings and the public record 
19.27 	of the commission shall be kept by the Legislative Coordinating Commission and shall 
19.28 	constitute the official record of the commission.
19.29 		Subd. 6.Right of floor. Any member desiring to speak shall be recognized by the chair, 
19.30 	or vice-chair when the chair is not present, and shall confine their remarks to the subject 
19.31 	under consideration or to be considered.
19.32 		Subd. 7.Right to general counsel. (a) The commission has a right to retain general 
19.33 	counsel with an expertise in election laws and voting rights. The general counsel of the 
20.1 	commission shall attend all meetings of the commission unless excused. The general counsel 
20.2 	shall, upon request, give an opinion, either written or oral, on questions of law. The general 
20.3 	counsel may make recommendations to the commission and shall have the right to take part 
20.4 	in all public discussions of the commission, but shall have no vote. The general counsel 
20.5 	shall act as parliamentarian of the commission and serve as its designated Data Practices 
20.6 	Act responsible authority in lieu of the Legislative Coordinating Commission's executive 
20.7 	director.
20.8 	(b) The retention of general counsel shall not substitute for the retention of other experts 
20.9 	by the commission, such as counsel with expertise in voting and elections, including the 
20.10 	Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.
20.11 	(c) The commission has sole authority to determine whether the attorney general or other 
20.12 	legal counsel retained by the commission shall represent the commission and assist in the 
20.13 	defense of a certified final map.
20.14 		Subd. 8.Voting. Except as otherwise provided in these rules or by law, administrative 
20.15 	actions including calling to order, adjourning, scheduling hearings, and other such actions 
20.16 	shall require the approval of a majority of commissioners entitled to vote. A vote is required 
20.17 	for the following actions:
20.18 	(1) a majority of the appointed commissioners may approve rules and procedural 
20.19 	decisions;
20.20 	(2) election of the chair and vice-chair requires the affirmative vote of the majority with 
20.21 	at least one commissioner identifying with the largest political party in the state, one 
20.22 	identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and one identifying with no 
20.23 	political party or with a political party that is not the largest or second largest in the state; 
20.24 	and
20.25 	(3) adoption of the final plan, which requires a two-thirds affirmative vote with at least 
20.26 	one commissioner identifying with the largest political party in the state, one commissioner 
20.27 	identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and one commissioner 
20.28 	identifying with no political party or with a political party that is not the largest or second 
20.29 	largest in the state.
20.30 		Subd. 9.Duty to vote; abstaining. (a) A commissioner present at a meeting shall vote 
20.31 	on every matter before the commission, unless otherwise excused or prohibited from voting.
20.32 	(b) A commissioner may abstain from voting if the commissioner:
20.33 	(1) has a conflict of interest, as set forth in this section or as defined by law; or
21.1 	(2) lacks sufficient information about the issue to be decided. If a commissioner abstains, 
21.2 	they shall state for the record their intention to abstain and the reasons for doing so prior to 
21.3 	the vote. The abstaining commissioner shall not be restricted or prohibited from participating 
21.4 	in any discussion or debate on the issue.
21.5 	(c) If any commissioner abstains from voting, a roll call vote shall be required on that 
21.6 	issue. The reasons, pursuant to paragraph (b), clause (1) or (2), for the abstention shall be 
21.7 	entered into the minutes of the meeting at which the vote is taken and be part of the official 
21.8 	record.
21.9 	(d) The right to vote is limited to the commissioners present at the time the vote is taken. 
21.10 	Voting by proxy is prohibited.
21.11 	(e) All votes must be held and determined in public. Secret ballots are prohibited.
21.12 	(f) Prior to calling for a vote, the chair shall state the question being voted upon.
21.13 		Subd. 10.Manner of voting. Except as otherwise provided in these rules or by law, 
21.14 	voting shall be by a two-thirds affirmative vote using voice vote, roll call, or show of hands. 
21.15 	Roll call votes shall be taken when required in these rules or by law, at the request of any 
21.16 	commissioner, or when the chair cannot determine the results of a voice vote.
21.17 		Subd. 11.Chair and vice-chair. (a) The commission must elect a chair and vice-chair 
21.18 	from among its members by a majority vote, including at least one vote from a member 
21.19 	identifying with the largest political party in the state, one vote from a member identifying 
21.20 	with the second largest political party in the state, and one vote from a member identifying 
21.21 	with no political party or with a political party that is not the largest or second largest in the 
21.22 	state. The chair and vice-chair shall not self-identify as belonging to the same political party.
21.23 	(b) The nomination and election of chair occurs first and vice-chair occurs second.
21.24 	(c) All candidates must be given an equal amount of time to speak in support of their 
21.25 	candidacy, to be followed by a period of questions and answers.
21.26 	(d) The chair shall:
21.27 	(1) call to order and preside at all meetings;
21.28 	(2) preserve order and decorum and may speak to points of order in preference to other 
21.29 	commissioners;
21.30 	(3) decide all questions arising under parliamentary authority in consultation with the 
21.31 	general counsel, subject to appeal and reversal by a majority of the commissioners present;
21.32 	(4) enforce rules of procedure;
22.1 	(5) perform any other administrative or agenda duties as directed by the commission;
22.2 	(6) have all the same rights as other commissioners with respect to procedural matters, 
22.3 	debate, and voting, except that the chair shall not vote on the appeal of a parliamentary 
22.4 	ruling by the chair;
22.5 	(7) approve expenditures associated with the commission for any individual expenditure 
22.6 	in excess of $5,000;
22.7 	(8) when both chair and vice-chair are absent, the chair may designate another of its 
22.8 	commissioners to serve as acting chair during such absence or disability; and
22.9 	(9) establish committees and subcommittees by a majority vote of the commission with 
22.10 	the support of at least one member identifying with the largest political party in the state, 
22.11 	one member identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and one 
22.12 	unaffiliated member.
22.13 	(e) The vice-chair shall perform the duties of the chair when the chair is unavailable, 
22.14 	except as otherwise provided by law. The vice-chair shall act in the capacity of the chair in 
22.15 	the chair's absence. The vice-chair shall help facilitate group discussion on items before the 
22.16 	commission. The vice-chair is responsible for other duties as designated by the chair.
22.17 		Subd. 12.Secretary. (a) The Legislative Coordinating Commission executive director, 
22.18 	or their designee, in a nonpartisan capacity, is secretary to the commission without vote, 
22.19 	and in that capacity must keep the official record of all proceedings of the commission and 
22.20 	furnish, under the direction of the commission, all technical services that the commission 
22.21 	deems necessary. The duties of the secretary include:
22.22 	(1) facilitating the process for the selection of commissioners pursuant to section 2A.21, 
22.23 	paragraphs (l) to (t);
22.24 	(2) issuing a call convening the commission by September 1 in the year of the federal 
22.25 	decennial census;
22.26 	(3) publishing the redistricting plan for each type of district within 30 days of the adoption 
22.27 	of the plan. This publication shall include the plan and the material reports, reference 
22.28 	materials, and data used in drawing it, including any programming information used to 
22.29 	produce and test the plan. The published materials shall be such that an independent person 
22.30 	is able to replicate the conclusion without any modification of any of the published materials;
22.31 	(4) maintaining a public record of all proceedings of the commission and shall publish 
22.32 	and distribute each plan and required documentation; and
23.1 	(5) taking and maintaining minutes of all commission meetings including votes on all 
23.2 	official actions taken at those meetings. All decisions of the commission shall be recorded, 
23.3 	and the record of its decisions shall be readily available to any member of the public as 
23.4 	required by law and shall be provided without charge.
23.5 		Subd. 13.Orientation and training. (a) Orientation and training for commissioners 
23.6 	shall be coordinated by the Legislative Coordinating Commission.
23.7 	(b) Commissioners shall receive orientation, continuing education, and training on the 
23.8 	purposes and activities of the commission. Information may be presented in a manner most 
23.9 	convenient or useful to the commission including the use of interactive or subject-matter 
23.10 	expert presentations. Training should include insights from other states operating under 
23.11 	independent citizens redistricting commissions.
23.12 	(c) Orientation shall be coordinated by nonpartisan Legislative Coordinating Commission 
23.13 	staff and must be completed within four weeks of the commission being formed.
23.14 		Subd. 14.Employment of personnel. The commission shall be compensated as 
23.15 	prescribed in law. The Legislative Coordinating Commission must provide the commission 
23.16 	with the services of nonpartisan experts, consultants, and support staff, as necessary to carry 
23.17 	out its duties pursuant to this section.
23.18 		Subd. 15.Public hearings in diverse state regions. (a) Prior to adopting a legislative 
23.19 	or congressional district plan, the commission must hold a minimum of 24 public hearings 
23.20 	in different regions throughout the state, including at least 12 hearings in Greater Minnesota.
23.21 	(b) By April 1 of each year ending in one, at least eight public hearings must be held in 
23.22 	diverse regions of the state to include southern Minnesota, central Minnesota, Northern 
23.23 	Minnesota, and the Twin Cities Metro Area, before adopting preliminary drafts of legislative 
23.24 	or congressional district plans. The primary purpose of this first set of public hearings in 
23.25 	different regions of Minnesota is to request advice on how to define communities of interest 
23.26 	and to provide an opportunity for public testimony from residents of that district. The 
23.27 	commission must make reasonable efforts to schedule hearings in the evenings, on weekends, 
23.28 	and at other times that most residents from that region are able to attend.
23.29 	(c) After completing the first round of public hearings to get public input on communities 
23.30 	of interest, the commission must publish on its website preliminary drafts of the legislative 
23.31 	and congressional district plans. The commission also must publish the reports for each 
23.32 	preliminary draft prior to hearings. The redistricting commission must allow the public at 
23.33 	least 14 days to submit comments to the commission after publication. After those fourteen 
23.34 	days, the redistricting commission must then hold at least two additional public hearings to 
24.1 	allow for open public input and comment. Nonpartisan GIS experts, consultants, and support 
24.2 	staff shall be present to hear and consider public comment on the proposed plans. The 
24.3 	commission may require its general counsel with experience and expertise in voting and 
24.4 	elections law also to attend.
24.5 	(d) The commission must allow the public to submit written testimony prior to a hearing 
24.6 	and make copies of that testimony available to all commissioners and the public prior to 
24.7 	and at the public hearings.
24.8 		Subd. 16.Internal communications. (a) The commission may designate one or more 
24.9 	commission staff to communicate with commissioners regarding administrative matters and 
24.10 	may define the scope of the permitted communication. The designation must be announced 
24.11 	at the next public hearing following the designation.
24.12 	(b) A commissioner must not direct, request, suggest, or recommend to staff an 
24.13 	interpretation of a districting principle or a change to a district boundary, except during an 
24.14 	open meeting of the commission.
24.15 	(c) Communication between retained counsel and members of the commission or the 
24.16 	designated commission staff does not violate the provisions of this section.
24.17 		Subd. 17.External communications. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), 
24.18 	commissioners and staff must not communicate with anyone outside the commission 
24.19 	regarding the content of a plan, except at an open meeting of the commission or when 
24.20 	soliciting or receiving written communications regarding a plan that is the subject of a public 
24.21 	hearing.
24.22 	(b) The following external communications are expressly permitted:
24.23 	(1) a communication of general information about the commission, proceedings of the 
24.24 	commission, or redistricting, including questions or requests for information and responses 
24.25 	to or from commission staff;
24.26 	(2) testimony or documents submitted by a person for use at a public hearing;
24.27 	(3) reports required under the Minnesota Constitution, article XV; and
24.28 	(4) a communication required by chapter 13 or 13D.
24.29 		Subd. 18.Prohibitions on gifts and gratuities. The commission, individual 
24.30 	commissioners, staff, general counsel, experts, and consultants may not directly or indirectly 
24.31 	solicit or accept any gift or loan of money, goods, services, or other thing of value greater 
25.1 	than $5 for the benefit of any person or organization that may influence the manner in which 
25.2 	the individual commissioner, staff, attorney, expert, or consultant performs their duties.
25.3 		Subd. 19.Reports of improper activity. (a) Commission staff shall report to the 
25.4 	commission any attempt to exert improper influence over the staff in drafting plans.
25.5 	(b) A commissioner or commission staff shall report to the commission chair and 
25.6 	vice-chair any prohibited communication. The report must include a copy of a written 
25.7 	communication or a written summary of an oral communication.
25.8 	(c) A report under this subdivision must be made no later than three business days after 
25.9 	the attempt to exert improper influence or the prohibited communication, or before the next 
25.10 	meeting of the commission, whichever is earlier. If special circumstances make this 
25.11 	requirement impracticable, the report must be made at the following meeting of the 
25.12 	commission.
25.13 		Subd. 20.Data used. (a) The commission shall use census data representing the entire 
25.14 	population of Minnesota to draw congressional and legislative districts, except when required 
25.15 	by law or for the purposes of drawing districts in compliance with this section and of issuing 
25.16 	the reports required by section 2A.24. The commission may consider demographic trend 
25.17 	data provided by the state of Minnesota. The commission may consider relevant election 
25.18 	data only when required by federal law or for the purposes of drawing districts in compliance 
25.19 	with prohibitions against racial discrimination and requirements for partisan fairness in the 
25.20 	Minnesota Constitution, Article XV, and for issuing reports required by section 2A.24.
25.21 	(b) The redistricting commission shall use population data that reflects incarcerated 
25.22 	persons at their last known residence before incarceration.
25.23 		Subd. 21.Deadlines. (a) After completing the public hearings required by subdivision 
25.24 	15 but by September 15 of each year ending in one, the commission must approve three 
25.25 	redistricting plans, one for the house of representatives, one for the senate, and one for the 
25.26 	state congressional districts. The chair of the commission must file the plans with the 
25.27 	secretary of state within 30 days of approval and must publish approved plans and its reports 
25.28 	as outlined in the Minnesota Constitution, article XV, section 12, to the commission's 
25.29 	website. Each plan must be accompanied by a report summarizing information and testimony 
25.30 	received by the redistricting commission in the course of the hearings and include any 
25.31 	comments and conclusions the redistricting commission deems appropriate on the information 
25.32 	and testimony received at the hearings or otherwise presented.
26.1 	(b) Final approval of all plans, whether enacted by the commission or as provided by 
26.2 	court order, must take place no later than the date provided in section 204B.14, subdivision 
26.3 	1a.
26.4 	(c) If the commission cannot reach an agreement on a plan for any reason, the commission 
26.5 	shall use the following procedure to adopt a plan for that type of district:
26.6 	(1) each commissioner may submit one proposed plan for each type of district to the 
26.7 	full commission for consideration;
26.8 	(2) each commissioner shall rank the plans submitted according to preference. Each plan 
26.9 	shall be assigned a point value inverse to its ranking among the number of choices, giving 
26.10 	the lowest ranked plan one point and the highest ranked plan a point value equal to the 
26.11 	number of plans submitted; and
26.12 	(3) the commission shall adopt the plan receiving the highest total points that is also 
26.13 	ranked among the top half of plans by at least two commissioners not affiliated with the 
26.14 	party of the commissioner submitting the plan or, in the case of a plan submitted by 
26.15 	nonaffiliated commissioners, is ranked among the top half of plans by at least two 
26.16 	commissioners affiliated with a major party. If two or more plans are tied for the highest 
26.17 	point total, the final plan must be selected by lot from those plans.
26.18 	(d) The constitutionally established redistricting commission must complete its activity 
26.19 	by November 1 each year ending in one unless directed otherwise by a reviewing court in 
26.20 	a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the certified redistricting plans. The redistricting 
26.21 	plan becomes effective for the following state general election upon filing with the secretary 
26.22 	of state.
26.23 		Subd. 22.Activity and evaluation report. Within 30 days of the adoption of a plan by 
26.24 	the commission or a court order establishing both a legislative plan and a congressional 
26.25 	plan, the redistricting commission must submit a report to the chief clerk of the house of 
26.26 	representatives and the secretary of the senate. At a minimum, the report must include a 
26.27 	summary of the commission's work, the information required in the Minnesota Constitution, 
26.28 	article XV, section 10, and any recommended changes to laws affecting the redistricting 
26.29 	process, duties, role, or function of the commission. The report must also inform the 
26.30 	legislature if the commission determines that funds or other resources provided for the 
26.31 	operation of the commission were inadequate. A commissioner who voted against a 
26.32 	redistricting plan may submit a dissenting report which shall be issued with the commission's 
26.33 	report. The commission must also submit this report to the governor and publish the report 
26.34 	on its website.
27.1 		Subd. 23.Criminal liability as public officers. Members of the commission exercise 
27.2 	the functions of a public officer for the purposes of sections 609.415 to 609.4751.
27.3 		Subd. 24.Data. The commission is subject to chapter 13, except that a plan is not public 
27.4 	data until it has been submitted to the commission for its consideration.
27.5 		Subd. 25.Lobbyist registration. Action by the commission is administrative action for 
27.6 	the purposes of section 10A.01, subdivisions 2 and 21.
27.7 		Subd. 26.Expiration. (a) The commission expires  upon the appointment of the 
27.8 	subsequent commission in ordinary course, or ten years after it was constituted.
27.9 	(b) If a court enjoins the use of a plan, the court enjoining the plan must direct the 
27.10 	commission to draft a remedial plan in accordance with deadlines established by the court's 
27.11 	order.

27.12 	Sec. 5. [2A.24] LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COMMISSION; 
27.13 	REDISTRICTING.
27.14 		Subdivision 1.Administrative and professional support. The Legislative Coordinating 
27.15 	Commission shall provide administrative, professional, and support services to the 
27.16 	commission established in section 2A.20. The responsibilities assigned to the Legislative 
27.17 	Coordinating Commission executive director may be implemented through a process or 
27.18 	delegation to an individual responsible to the executive director to carry out the assigned 
27.19 	activities.
27.20 		Subd. 2.Data used. (a) The geographic areas and population counts used in maps, tables, 
27.21 	and legal descriptions of legislative and congressional districts considered by the legislature 
27.22 	and the redistricting commission must be those used by the GIS Office. The population 
27.23 	counts shall be the block population counts provided to the state under Public Law 94-171 
27.24 	after each decennial census, subject to correction of any errors acknowledged by the United 
27.25 	States Census Bureau.
27.26 	(b) Nothing in this subdivision prohibits the use of additional data, except as provided 
27.27 	by sections 2A.21 and 2A.23.
27.28 	(c) The GIS Office must make this data available to the public on the GIS Office's 
27.29 	website.
27.30 		Subd. 3.Publication; consideration of plans. A plan must not be finalized until the 
27.31 	plan's block equivalency file has been submitted to the GIS Office in a form prescribed by 
27.32 	the GIS Office. The block equivalency file must show the district to which each census 
28.1 	block has been assigned. The GIS Office shall publish each plan submitted to it on the GIS 
28.2 	Office website.
28.3 		Subd. 4.Reports. Publication of a plan shall include the reports described as follows:
28.4 	(1) a population equality report that lists each district in the plan, its population as the 
28.5 	total number of persons, and deviations from the ideal as both the number of persons and 
28.6 	as a percentage of the population. The report must also show the populations of the largest 
28.7 	and smallest districts and the overall range of deviations of districts;
28.8 	(2) a minority voting-age population report that lists for each district the voting age 
28.9 	population of each racial, ethnic, or language minority and the total minority voting age 
28.10 	population, according to the categories recommended by the United States Department of 
28.11 	Justice. The report must also specify each district with 30 percent or more total minority 
28.12 	population;
28.13 	(3) a contiguity report that lists each district that is noncontiguous either because two 
28.14 	areas of a district do not touch or because they are linked by a point;
28.15 	(4) if a plan preserves a community of interest, a communities of interest report that 
28.16 	includes maps of the plan with a layer identifying the census blocks within each preserved 
28.17 	community of interest and includes a description of the research process used to identify 
28.18 	each community of interest. The report must also list each district to which a community 
28.19 	of interest has been assigned, the number of communities of interest that are split, and the 
28.20 	number of times communities of interest were split;
28.21 	(5) a political subdivision and Native Nation reservation splits report that lists each split 
28.22 	of a county, city, township, federally recognized Native Nation reservation, unorganized 
28.23 	territory, and precinct, and the district to which each portion of a split division is assigned. 
28.24 	The report also must show the number of subdivisions split and the number of times a 
28.25 	subdivision is split;
28.26 	(6) a plan components report that lists for each district the names and populations of the 
28.27 	counties within it and, if a county is split between or among districts, the names and 
28.28 	populations of the portion of the split county and each of the split county's whole or partial 
28.29 	cities, townships, unorganized territories, and precincts within each district;
28.30 	(7) a measures of compactness report that lists for each district the results of the multiple 
28.31 	measures of compactness, including but not limited to Reock, Polsby-Popper, Minimum 
28.32 	Convex Hull, Population Polygon, Population Circle, Ehrenburg, Perimeter, and 
28.33 	Length-Width measures. The report must also state for each district the sum of the district's 
29.1 	perimeter and the mean of the measurements. The report may list additional tests of 
29.2 	compactness that are accepted in political science and statistics literature; and
29.3 	(8) a partisanship report that lists multiple measures of partisan symmetry. The report 
29.4 	may list additional tests of partisan bias that are accepted in political science and statistics 
29.5 	literature.

29.6 	Sec. 6. [2A.25] REDISTRICTING PRINCIPLES.
29.7 		Subdivision 1.Districting principles. The prohibitions and principles in this section 
29.8 	apply to both legislative and congressional districts.
29.9 		Subd. 2.Prohibitions (a) Districts must not be drawn to violate the Fourteenth and 
29.10 	Fifteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution or the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 
29.11 	as amended.
29.12 	(b) Districts must not be drawn to purposefully favor or disfavor a candidate or incumbent.
29.13 	(c) Districts must not be drawn using voter registration, voter turnout, voting history, or 
29.14 	party preference, including participation in the presidential nominating primary, general 
29.15 	election, voting patterns, and primary voting patterns, except for the purposes of verifying 
29.16 	the compliance of maps with the requirements of this section and of issuing the reports 
29.17 	required by section 2A.23;
29.18 	(d) Districts must not be drawn using the location of incumbents' or candidates' residences.
29.19 	(e) Districts must not be drawn using data subject to reporting or regulation under chapter 
29.20 	10A; section 201.091, subdivision 4a; United States Code, title 52, subtitle III; or under 
29.21 	United States Code, title 26, subtitle H.
29.22 	(f) Districts must not be drawn with the effect of unduly favoring or disfavoring any 
29.23 	political party. Districts shall be subjected to a test of partisan fairness using the standard 
29.24 	of proportionality as the benchmark for fairness. Using four recent statewide elections, any 
29.25 	proposed Congressional or legislative plan must be close to achieving major-party seat share 
29.26 	proportional to the corresponding share of the popular vote in at least three out of the four 
29.27 	contests. The standard of closeness is one seat for Congressional contests and seven 
29.28 	percentage points for legislative contests. If a plan fails to meet this standard, it triggers a 
29.29 	rebuttable presumption of excessive partisan advantage. This may be rebutted if a court 
29.30 	determines that the degree of disproportionality was necessary in order to reasonably balance 
29.31 	the rules and criteria in effect for redistricting.
30.1 		Subd. 3.Priority of principles. Districts must be drawn in accordance with the principles 
30.2 	in this section. If districts cannot be drawn fully in accordance with the principles, a 
30.3 	districting plan must give priority to those principles in the order in which they are listed, 
30.4 	except when doing so would violate federal or state law.
30.5 		Subd. 4.Population equality. (a) Each congressional district must be as nearly equal 
30.6 	in population as practicable.
30.7 	(b) Each legislative district must be substantially equal in population. The population 
30.8 	of a legislative district must not deviate by more than five percent from the population of 
30.9 	the ideal district.
30.10 		Subd. 5.Minority representation. (a) Districts must not be drawn with either the purpose 
30.11 	or effect of denying or abridging the voting rights of any Minnesotan because of race, 
30.12 	ethnicity, or membership in a language minority group.
30.13 	(b) Districts shall be drawn to protect the equal opportunity of racial, ethnic, and language 
30.14 	minorities to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of their choice, 
30.15 	whether alone or in coalition with others.
30.16 	(c) Districts must provide racial minorities and language minorities who constitute less 
30.17 	than a voting-age majority of a district with an equal opportunity to substantially influence 
30.18 	the outcome of an election.
30.19 		Subd. 6.Preservation of Native Nations. The reservation lands of a federally recognized 
30.20 	Native Nation must be preserved to the extent practicable. Discontiguous portions of a 
30.21 	federally recognized Native Nation's reservation lands must be included in the same district, 
30.22 	and must not be divided more than necessary to meet constitutional requirements.
30.23 		Subd. 7.Communities of interest. Districts must minimize the division of identifiable 
30.24 	communities of interest. A community of interest may include a racial, ethnic, or linguistic 
30.25 	group or any group with shared experiences and concerns, including but not limited to 
30.26 	geographic, governmental, regional, social, cultural, historic, socioeconomic, occupational, 
30.27 	trade, environmental, or transportation interests. Communities of interest shall not include 
30.28 	relationships with political parties, incumbents, or candidates.
30.29 		Subd. 8.Convenience and contiguity. Each district must be convenient and contiguous. 
30.30 	A district is convenient if it allows reasonable ease of travel within the district. Contiguity 
30.31 	by water is sufficient if the water is not a serious obstacle to travel within the district. A 
30.32 	district with areas that touch only at a point is not contiguous.
31.1 		Subd. 9.Nesting. A representative district must not be divided in the formation of a 
31.2 	senate district.
31.3 		Subd. 10.Political subdivisions. Districts must minimize the division of counties, cities, 
31.4 	or towns except when (1) the division occurs because a portion of a city or town is not 
31.5 	contiguous with another portion of the same city or town, or (2) despite the division, the 
31.6 	known population of any affected county, city, or town, remains wholly located within a 
31.7 	single district.
31.8 		Subd. 11.Natural geographic boundaries. Districts must be drawn to respect natural 
31.9 	geographic boundaries to the extent possible, including bodies of water, mountain ranges, 
31.10 	and other significant geological and topographic features.
31.11 		Subd. 12.Numbering. (a) Congressional district numbers must begin with district one 
31.12 	in the southeast corner of the state and end with the district with the highest number in the 
31.13 	northeast corner of the state.
31.14 	(b) Legislative districts must be numbered in a regular series, beginning with house of 
31.15 	representatives district 1A in the northwest corner of the state and proceeding across the 
31.16 	state from west to east, north to south. In a county that includes more than one whole senate 
31.17 	district, the districts must be numbered consecutively.
31.18 		Subd. 13.Additional principles. The redistricting commission established in section 
31.19 	2A.20 may adopt additional principles by a two-thirds vote, but the additional principles 
31.20 	must not be prioritized above the principles in the Minnesota Constitution or in this section.
31.21 		Subd. 14.Severability. The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of 
31.22 	this section or its application is held to be invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other 
31.23 	provisions of this section, which shall be given the maximum possible effect in the absence 
31.24 	of the invalid provision.

31.25 	Sec. 7. [204B.136] REDISTRICTING OF LOCAL ELECTION DISTRICTS.
31.26 		Subdivision 1.Redistricting principles. The principles provided by section 2A.25 must 
31.27 	be applied to the redistricting of:
31.28 	(1) county commissioner districts, park districts, and soil and water conservation 
31.29 	supervisor districts in counties with a population greater than 100,000;
31.30 	(2) wards in cities with a population greater than 60,000; and
31.31 	(3) Metropolitan Council districts.
32.1 		Subd. 2.Population variance. A district or ward in a plan subject to this section must 
32.2 	be as equal as practicable and not deviate by more than plus or minus ten percent from the 
32.3 	population of the ideal district or ward.

32.4 	Sec. 8. APPROPRIATIONS; LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COMMISSION.
 32.5 	$....... in fiscal year .... and $....... in fiscal year .... are appropriated from the general fund 
32.6 	to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for costs associated with implementation of 
32.7 	this act, including costs to support the redistricting commission established in Minnesota 
32.8 	Statutes, chapter 2A. These are onetime appropriations.

32.9 	Sec. 9. REPEALER.
 32.10 	Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 2.91, subdivision 1, is repealed.

32.11 	Sec. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 32.12 	This article is effective January 1, 2025, if the proposed state constitutional amendment 
32.13 	in article 1 is ratified.

32.14 	ARTICLE 3
32.15 	CITIZENS ADVISORY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

32.16 	Section 1. [2A.30] REDISTRICTING; DEFINITIONS; ADJUSTMENT OF DATES.
32.17 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section and section 2A.31, the 
32.18 	definitions have the meanings given.
32.19 	(b) "Applicant pools" means the lists of applicants described in section 2A.31, subdivision 
32.20 	2, paragraph (e).
32.21 	(c) "Executive director" means the executive director of the Legislative Coordinating 
32.22 	Commission.
32.23 	(d) "GIS office" means the Geographic Information Services Office of the Legislative 
32.24 	Coordinating Commission.
32.25 	(e) "Largest political party in the state" means the political party whose candidate received 
32.26 	the greatest number of votes for legislative seats in the state in the most recent general 
32.27 	election.
32.28 	(f) "Legislative Coordinating Commission" is the entity established in section 3.303.
33.1 	(g) "Second largest political party in the state" means the political party whose candidate 
33.2 	received the second greatest number of votes for legislative seats in the state in the most 
33.3 	recent general election.
33.4 		Subd. 2.Adjustment of dates. If any date prescribed in this chapter falls on a Saturday, 
33.5 	Sunday, or legal holiday, then the date is extended to the next day that is not a Saturday, 
33.6 	Sunday, or legal holiday.

33.7 	Sec. 2. [2A.31] REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.
33.8 		Subdivision 1.Membership. In each year ending in zero, a Citizens Advisory 
33.9 	Redistricting Commission is created to draw the boundaries of legislative and congressional 
33.10 	districts in accordance with the principles established in section 2A.32. The redistricting 
33.11 	commission consists of 15 members of the public.
33.12 		Subd. 2.Appointment. (a) The application and appointment process for members of 
33.13 	the Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission shall be the process described in section 
33.14 	15.0597, except as otherwise provided by this section.
33.15 	(b) By January 1 of each year ending in zero, the secretary of state shall open a widely 
33.16 	publicized process and circulate applications in a manner that encourages wide public 
33.17 	participation of eligible residents from different regions of the state to apply for membership 
33.18 	on the commission. Applications are public data under chapter 13 and shall be made available 
33.19 	on the secretary of state's website or a comparable means of communicating with the public. 
33.20 	Applications must be received by March 1 of the year ending in zero.
33.21 	(c) The secretary of state shall design and provide an application form that must clearly 
33.22 	state the legal obligations and expectations of potential appointees. Information required of 
33.23 	applicants must include but is not limited to:
33.24 	(1) statement from applicants affirming they meet the requirements of subdivision 3;
33.25 	(2) an oath affirming the applicant submits the application declaring the truthfulness of 
33.26 	its contents under penalty of perjury;
33.27 	(3) the applicant's demographic information, including but not limited to gender, race, 
33.28 	ethnicity, and year of birth;
33.29 	(4) the applicant's professional background;
33.30 	(5) the applicant's past experience working with others to build consensus;
33.31 	(6) the applicant's level of understanding about Minnesota communities, neighborhoods, 
33.32 	geographic regions, or demographics across the state;
34.1 	(7) a description of the applicant's past political activity;
34.2 	(8) list of all political and civic organizations to which the applicant has belonged within 
34.3 	the five years prior to the application;
34.4 	(9) a statement indicating with which political party the applicant identifies, or that the 
34.5 	applicant identifies with no party. For purposes of this clause, identifying with a political 
34.6 	party means that the applicant is in general agreement with the principles of the party; and
34.7 	(10) any other information required to determine eligibility to serve on the commission.
34.8 	(d) The secretary of state must review applications as they are received to ensure that 
34.9 	each application is complete and each applicant has signed the oath attesting to the 
34.10 	truthfulness of the information contained in the application. No later than March 15 of the 
34.11 	year ending in zero, the secretary of state must forward the completed application of each 
34.12 	eligible person to the executive director. The secretary of state must not forward any 
34.13 	application that is incomplete or any application by a person who has not signed off on the 
34.14 	oath attesting to the accuracy of the information contained in the application. If the secretary 
34.15 	of state does not forward an application, the secretary of state must notify the applicant that 
34.16 	the applicant's application was not forwarded and the reason why.
34.17 	(e) The Legislative Coordinating Commission executive director shall remove from the 
34.18 	applicant pool individuals who do not qualify including:
34.19 	(1) a person who has not resided in Minnesota for at least one year prior to their 
34.20 	application submission or is not eligible to vote;
34.21 	(2) a current member of the legislature or Congress;
34.22 	(3) a person under contract with, or who serves as a consultant or staff to, or who has 
34.23 	or has had an immediate family relationship with the governor, a member of the legislature, 
34.24 	or a member of Congress during the ten years immediately preceding the date of application;
34.25 	(4) a person who serves or has served during the ten years immediately preceding the 
34.26 	date of application as a public official, as defined in section 10A.01, subdivision 35, clauses 
34.27 	(1) to (5), (12), (13), (16), (26), and (27); and
34.28 	(5) a person, or member of the person's immediate family, who is or during the ten years 
34.29 	immediately preceding the date of application has:
34.30 	(i) been appointed to, elected to, or a candidate for state office;
34.31 	(ii) served as an officer, employee, contractor, or paid consultant of a political party or 
34.32 	of the campaign committee of a candidate for elective federal or state office;
35.1 	(iii) served as an elected or appointed member of a political party state committee, as 
35.2 	defined by section 10A.01, subdivision 36, or a delegate to a national convention of a 
35.3 	political party;
35.4 	(iv) registered as a lobbyist, registrant, or client with the federal government under the 
35.5 	Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 as amended or as a state lobbyist or principal with the 
35.6 	Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board under chapter 10A;
35.7 	(v) served as paid congressional or legislative staff; or
35.8 	(vi) been found by the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to have violated 
35.9 	section 10A.27.
35.10 	For the purposes of this subdivision, a member of a person's immediate family means a 
35.11 	sibling, spouse, or parent, including half, step, and in-law relationships. While serving on 
35.12 	the commission, commissioners must not campaign for elective office or actively participate 
35.13 	in or contribute to a political campaign nor run for federal, state, or local political office for 
35.14 	a period of up to ten years after the commission expires.
35.15 	(f) By February 15 in the year ending in zero the executive director of the Legislative 
35.16 	Coordinating Commission shall appoint a redistricting advisory group consisting of, at a 
35.17 	minimum, the executive directors of the Minnesota Latino Affairs Council, Council for 
35.18 	Minnesotans of African Heritage, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the Council on Asian 
35.19 	Pacific Minnesotans, the Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans, the Minnesota Youth 
35.20 	Council, the Minnesota Council on Disabilities, and the Minnesota Commission of Deaf, 
35.21 	Deafblind and Hard of Hearing.
35.22 	(g) The Redistricting Advisory Group shall serve as advisors to the executive director 
35.23 	and must work within the process described in paragraph (i), and subdivision 5, paragraph 
35.24 	(a), clause (8), to ensure diversity of applicants throughout the process.
35.25 	(h) Members of the Redistricting Advisory Group must participate in a nonpartisan 
35.26 	manner and serve without predisposition or bias on issues related to the state's representation 
35.27 	for redistricting boundaries. The Redistricting Advisory Group must work with the executive 
35.28 	director as outlined to foster diversity of applicant pools throughout the process and in their 
35.29 	role as experts on matters pertaining to their respective communities. It is not intended that 
35.30 	formulas or specific ratios be applied for this purpose.
35.31 	(i) By April 1 of the year ending in zero, the executive director, in consultation with the 
35.32 	Redistricting Advisory Group shall jointly screen and sort the applicants into three applicant 
35.33 	pools: one pool for applicants identifying with the largest political party in this state; one 
36.1 	pool for applicants identifying with the second largest political party in the state; and one 
36.2 	pool for applicants identifying with no political party or a political party that is not the 
36.3 	largest or second largest political party in the state. The executive director must review the 
36.4 	applicants in each applicant pool and narrow each pool down to 40 applicants based on a 
36.5 	review of each applicant's relevant analytical skills, the ability to be impartial, and the ability 
36.6 	to promote consensus on the commission and appreciation for Minnesota's diverse 
36.7 	demographics, communities, and geography as documented in the application. To the extent 
36.8 	practicable, the executive director must ensure that each applicant pool reflects the gender, 
36.9 	socioeconomic, age, racial, language, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the state. Each 
36.10 	congressional district must be represented by at least two applicants in each applicant pool.
36.11 	(j) If there is an insufficient number of available applicants to select a 40-applicant pool, 
36.12 	then the pool consists of only those applicants who did meet the requirements.
36.13 	(k) By April 1 in each year ending in zero, the executive director must provide each 
36.14 	applicant pool list to the majority leaders and minority leaders of the house of representatives 
36.15 	and the senate. By April 15 of each year ending in zero, the majority leaders and minority 
36.16 	leaders of the house of representatives and the senate must each select five applicants from 
36.17 	their party's list and forward the names of the applicants to the Legislative Coordinating 
36.18 	Commission's executive director. The executive director must make the list and applications 
36.19 	available to all legislative leaders. In selecting applicants, the executive director or a leader 
36.20 	must not select more than one applicant from any congressional district.
36.21 	(l) By April 29 of each year ending in zero, 12 names must be stricken from the list as 
36.22 	follows:
36.23 	(1) the senate majority leader must strike three applicants from the applicants selected 
36.24 	by the senate minority leader;
36.25 	(2) the senate minority leader must strike three applicants from the applicants selected 
36.26 	by the senate majority leader;
36.27 	(3) the house majority leader must strike three applicants from the applicants selected 
36.28 	by the house minority leader; and
36.29 	(4) the house minority leader must strike three applicants from the applicants selected 
36.30 	by the house majority leader.
36.31 	(m) The legislative leaders must forward the eight remaining names consisting of four 
36.32 	applicants identifying with the largest political party in the state and four applicants 
37.1 	identifying with the second largest political party in the state to the executive director. These 
37.2 	eight individuals shall serve on the Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission.
37.3 	(n) By April 29 of each year ending in zero, the executive director must, by lottery, 
37.4 	select four applicants from the pool of 40 applicants who do not identify with a party or 
37.5 	identify with a party other than the first or second largest political party described in 
37.6 	paragraph (e). Together with the eight individuals selected by the legislative leaders, these 
37.7 	twelve individuals shall serve on the Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission.
37.8 	(o) No later than May 15 in each year ending in the number zero, the twelve advisory 
37.9 	commissioners shall convene and assess the commission's demographic diversity within 
37.10 	the twelve members and must review and select six more applicants from the remaining 
37.11 	applicants from the pool of 40 applicants originally selected by legislative leadership and 
37.12 	appoint six applicants to the commission as follows: two from the remaining pool of 
37.13 	applicants identifying with the largest political party in Minnesota, two from the remaining 
37.14 	pool of applicants identifying with the second largest political party in Minnesota, and two 
37.15 	from the remaining pool of applicants identifying with no political party or with a political 
37.16 	party that is not the largest or second largest political party in Minnesota. The six individuals 
37.17 	must be approved by at least two-thirds affirmative votes which must include at least two 
37.18 	votes of commissioners registered from each of the two largest parties and two votes from 
37.19 	commissioners who are not affiliated with either of the two largest political parties in 
37.20 	Minnesota. These six new appointees shall be chosen to ensure the Citizens Advisory 
37.21 	Redistricting Commission reflects this state's diversity, including but not limited to racial, 
37.22 	ethnic, geographic, and gender diversity. However, it is not intended that formulas or specific 
37.23 	ratios be applied for this purpose.
37.24 	(p) The executive director of the Legislative Coordinating Commission shall report the 
37.25 	15 names selected to the secretary of the state. These 15 individuals shall serve as members 
37.26 	of the Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission and shall not include more than two 
37.27 	commissioners from any one congressional district.
37.28 	(q) The secretary of state's actions under this subdivision are not subject to chapter 14.
37.29 	(r) Before serving on the Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission, every person 
37.30 	shall take and subscribe an oath to faithfully perform the duties of that office. The oath must 
37.31 	be filed with the secretary of state.
37.32 		Subd. 3.Eligibility of public members. (a) A person is eligible to serve if the person 
37.33 	has been a resident of Minnesota for at least a year at the time of the submission of the 
37.34 	application and is not an elected official.
38.1 	(b) The following persons are not eligible to serve as a commissioner:
38.2 	(1) a person who is not eligible to vote in the state of Minnesota;
38.3 	(2) a current member of the legislature or Congress;
38.4 	(3) a person under contract with, who serves as a consultant or staff to, or who has or 
38.5 	has had an immediate family relationship with the governor, a member of the legislature, 
38.6 	or a member of Congress during the ten years immediately preceding the date of application;
38.7 	(4) a person who serves or has served during the ten years immediately preceding the 
38.8 	date of application as a public official, as defined in section 10A.01, subdivision 35, clauses 
38.9 	(1) to (5), (12), (13), (16), (26), and (27); and
38.10 	(5) a person, or member of the person's immediate family, who is or during the ten years 
38.11 	immediately preceding the date of application has:
38.12 	(i) been appointed to, elected to, or a candidate for federal or state office;
38.13 	(ii) served as an officer, employee, contractor, or paid consultant of a political party or 
38.14 	of the campaign committee of a candidate for elective federal or state office;
38.15 	(iii) served as an elected or appointed member of a political party state committee, as 
38.16 	defined by section 10A.01, subdivision 36, or a delegate to a national convention of a 
38.17 	political party;
38.18 	(iv) registered as a lobbyist, registrant, or client with the federal government under the 
38.19 	Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 as amended or as a state lobbyist or principal with the 
38.20 	Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board under chapter 10A;
38.21 	(v) served as paid congressional or legislative staff; or
38.22 	(vi) been found by the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to have violated 
38.23 	section 10A.27.
38.24 	(c) While serving on the Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission, commissioners 
38.25 	must not campaign for elective office or actively participate in or contribute to a political 
38.26 	campaign nor run for state or local political office for a period of up to ten years after the 
38.27 	Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission expires.
38.28 	(d) For the purposes of this subdivision, a member of a person's immediate family means 
38.29 	a sibling, spouse, or parent, including half, step, and in-law relationships.
38.30 		Subd. 4.Removal; filling vacancies. (a) Each commissioner shall serve for the entire 
38.31 	term of the commission unless the commissioner is removed or otherwise vacates the office.
39.1 	(b) A commissioner's position on the Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission is 
39.2 	deemed vacant if the commissioner, having been appointed as a registered elector who is 
39.3 	not affiliated with a political party, affiliates with a political party before the Minnesota 
39.4 	Legislature has approved a plan pursuant to subdivision 25. A commissioner's position on 
39.5 	the Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission is also deemed vacant if the commissioner, 
39.6 	having been affiliated with one of the state's two largest political parties at the time of 
39.7 	appointment, affiliates with a different political party or becomes unaffiliated with any 
39.8 	political party before the Minnesota Legislature has approved a plan pursuant to subdivision 
39.9 	25.
39.10 	(c) The removal of an officer from an officer position requires a two-thirds affirmative 
39.11 	vote with at least one commissioner identifying with the largest political party in the state, 
39.12 	one commissioner identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and one 
39.13 	commissioner identifying with no political party or with a political party that is not the 
39.14 	largest or second largest in the state.
39.15 	(d) If the basis for the commissioner's removal is the commissioner's refusal to vote as 
39.16 	part of a collective effort to disrupt the process or vote of the commission, that member or 
39.17 	members may be removed after a finding by the chair as described in this section and a 
39.18 	two-thirds vote of those commissioners present.
39.19 	(e) Removal of a member takes place immediately after a finding by the chair and must 
39.20 	be by a two-thirds vote of all members of the advisory commission, including at least one 
39.21 	member identifying with the largest political party in the state, one member identifying with 
39.22 	the second largest political party in the state, and one member identifying with no political 
39.23 	party or with a political party that is not the largest or second largest in the state.
39.24 	(f) After notice and a hearing, the advisory commission may also remove a commissioner 
39.25 	for malfeasance or nonfeasance during the term of service in the performance of the duties 
39.26 	of the advisory commission, or for missing three consecutive meetings. After the second 
39.27 	consecutive missed meeting and before the next meeting, the chair or a designee must notify 
39.28 	the commissioner in writing that the member may be removed for missing the next meeting. 
39.29 	The definitions in section 211C.01 apply to this subdivision.
39.30 	(g) The chair must submit a written notice to the Legislative Coordinating Commission 
39.31 	executive director, stating the grounds that another member's office should be declared 
39.32 	vacant under this subdivision. This written notice shall: (1) be dated and signed; and (2) 
39.33 	provide a detailed factual basis in support of the allegations causing the removal of another 
40.1 	member. The factual basis shall include the specific facts and factual foundation on which 
40.2 	the removal is based. Supporting documentation, if any, shall be included.
40.3 	(h) Any vacancy on the advisory commission, including one that occurs due to death, 
40.4 	mental incapacity, resignation, criminal conviction of a serious crime, removal, failure to 
40.5 	meet the qualifications of appointment, refusal or inability to accept an appointment, or 
40.6 	having been found to have participated in a communication prohibited by subdivision 20 
40.7 	or 21 or conduct prohibited by subdivision 22, or otherwise, must be filled as soon as 
40.8 	possible, but no later than seven days after the vacancy occurred, by the executive director 
40.9 	from the designated pool of eligible applicants for that commissioner's position and in the 
40.10 	same manner as the originally chosen commissioner, except that no commissioner chosen 
40.11 	to fill a vacancy would be bypassed for appointment if all congressional districts are 
40.12 	represented by at least one commissioner. If no remaining finalists described in the same 
40.13 	pool under subdivision 2, paragraph (i), are available for service, the secretary of state shall 
40.14 	open the application process again and the executive director shall establish a new list of 
40.15 	applicants, as provided in subdivision 2.
40.16 		Subd. 5.Duties. (a) Each commissioner shall perform their duties in a manner that is 
40.17 	impartial and reinforces public confidence in the integrity of the redistricting process. 
40.18 	Commissioners must disclose the presence of a conflict of interest, or raise a potential 
40.19 	conflict of interest when the agenda item is called, prior to the start of discussion or 
40.20 	deliberation. In addition to other duties prescribed by law, the advisory commission shall:
40.21 	(1) attend nonpartisan redistricting training held by a nationally recognized nonpartisan 
40.22 	organization or the Legislative Coordinating Commission;
40.23 	(2) attend training on the Minnesota Data Practices Act and Open Meetings Act;
40.24 	(3) determine its own rules and order. Within ten weeks of being established, the Citizens 
40.25 	Advisory Redistricting Commission must adopt administrative rules to govern the 
40.26 	commission's process. The rules must be adopted at an open meeting, with advance notice 
40.27 	of the meeting, and members of the public must be provided with an opportunity to provide 
40.28 	comment on the rules. The procedures and rules referenced in this subdivision are not subject 
40.29 	to chapter 14 or section 14.386.
40.30 	A member who has a conflict between a personal interest and the public interest in the 
40.31 	procurement process of securing staff, consultants, general counsel or any other professional 
40.32 	services, shall fully disclose to the commission in writing as soon as they learn of the 
40.33 	potential conflict of interest the nature of the conflict. A member shall not participate in the 
40.34 	discussion, or deliberation or vote upon any matter if a conflict exists;
41.1 	(4) adopt procedures and rules to carry out the provisions of this section and any laws 
41.2 	enacted by the legislature, including the procurement of professional services such as GIS, 
41.3 	general counsel, and other subject matter expert staff. These procedures and rules are not 
41.4 	subject to chapter 14 or section 14.386;
41.5 	(5) act as the legislature's recipient of the final redistricting data and other files relevant 
41.6 	to redistricting from the United States Census Bureau;
41.7 	(6) comply with requirements to disclose and preserve public records, as specified in 
41.8 	the Data Practices Act, chapter 13, and section 138.17;
41.9 	(7) hold open meetings and public hearings throughout the state pursuant to the Open 
41.10 	Meetings Law, chapter 13D;
41.11 	(8) work with the Redistricting Advisory Group to host a minimum of eight statewide 
41.12 	informational town halls at community locations most likely to be known by individuals 
41.13 	living in the community and at a time most likely to reasonably yield the highest attendance, 
41.14 	allowing for basic information regarding the role of the advisory commission, how 
41.15 	commission members were selected, and why community member participation matters in 
41.16 	the redistricting process;
41.17 	(9) provide public notice at least seven days in advance of any public meeting or public 
41.18 	hearing. The notice and agenda must be posted on the commission's website and published 
41.19 	in local news sources. The public notice shall also be disseminated leveraging social media, 
41.20 	media frequently used by disenfranchised Minnesotans, or other community-based 
41.21 	communication channels. The advisory commission may also partner with community-based 
41.22 	nonpartisan organizations in an effort to more widely disseminate the notice to directly 
41.23 	impacted communities. The notice and agenda must be provided in all languages required 
41.24 	for voting materials under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, United States Code, title 
41.25 	52, section 10503, in the congressional district in which the public meeting is scheduled;
41.26 	(10) publish a draft agenda at least 72 hours before each public meeting or hearing;
41.27 	(11) prepare and publish a report before any public meeting or hearing and no later than 
41.28 	ten weeks after all members of the advisory commission are appointed that describes the 
41.29 	commission's general priorities and intentions for utilizing redistricting criteria in its 
41.30 	decision-making process, including a discussion on how the commission will balance 
41.31 	competing requirements;
41.32 	(12) adopt a schedule for interested persons to submit proposed plans and to respond to 
41.33 	plans proposed by others. The redistricting commission shall also adopt standards to govern 
42.1 	the format of plans submitted. Adoption of the schedule and standards under this subdivision 
42.2 	is not subject to chapter 14 or section 14.386. The advisory commission must post submitted 
42.3 	plans to its website as soon as practicable;
42.4 	(13) subject to subdivisions 20 and 21, provide direction to commission staff on drawing 
42.5 	maps;
42.6 	(14) subject to subdivisions 20 and 21, review and direct modifications of maps to 
42.7 	commission staff;
42.8 	(15) prepare and publish reports on the following:
42.9 	(i) all plans discussed by the full advisory commission, including all publicly submitted 
42.10 	plans and draft plans;
42.11 	(ii) a summary of all public input received in each comment period;
42.12 	(iii) a summary of the data the advisory commission used to create those plans;
42.13 	(iv) analysis of the maps using redistricting metrics; and
42.14 	(v) any other information that provides the basis on which the advisory commission 
42.15 	made decisions to achieve compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements;
42.16 	(16) make reasonable efforts to schedule hearings in the evenings, on weekends, and at 
42.17 	other times that most residents in that region are able to attend;
42.18 	(17) whenever possible, use technology that allows for real-time virtual participation 
42.19 	and feedback for all hearings. All audiovisual recordings of the advisory commission public 
42.20 	meetings and public hearings must be maintained on the commission's website indefinitely;
42.21 	(18) make reasonable efforts to make available translation and interpreter services for 
42.22 	limited English-speaking individuals and those needing accommodations in compliance 
42.23 	with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The redistricting commission may contract with 
42.24 	an entity that provides interpreter services through telephonic and video remote technologies; 
42.25 	and
42.26 	(19) provide notices of the availability of both plans and reports in all languages required 
42.27 	for voting materials under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1964, United States Code, title 
42.28 	52, section 10503, and as required for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act 
42.29 	for each congressional district.
42.30 		Subd. 6.Rules of order. Advisory commission meetings shall be conducted according 
42.31 	to the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, subject to any procedures to the contrary 
42.32 	set forth in these rules, applicable law, or such other rules adopted by the commission.
43.1 		Subd. 7.Quorum. (a) A quorum must be present to conduct the business of the advisory 
43.2 	commission meetings and hold public hearings. The quorum shall consist of twelve members, 
43.3 	including at least one member affiliated with each of the major parties and one nonaffiliated 
43.4 	member.
43.5 	(b) If there is not a quorum due to a collective effort by one or more commissioners to 
43.6 	disrupt the work, process, or vote of the commission, a quorum consists of the majority of 
43.7 	commissioners. The requirement for at least one member from each majority party and one 
43.8 	nonaffiliated member is not applicable under this circumstance.
43.9 		Subd. 8.Minutes. Minutes of all meetings, including votes on all official actions taken 
43.10 	at those meetings shall be kept by the Legislative Coordinating Commission. All decisions 
43.11 	of the advisory commission shall be recorded, and the record of its decisions shall be readily 
43.12 	available to any member of the public as required by law and shall be provided without 
43.13 	charge.
43.14 		Subd. 9.Journal of proceedings. An account of all proceedings and the public record 
43.15 	of the advisory commission shall be kept by the Legislative Coordinating Commission and 
43.16 	shall constitute the official record of the advisory commission and be posted to the 
43.17 	commission's website.
43.18 		Subd. 10.Right of floor. Any member desiring to speak shall be recognized by the 
43.19 	chair, or vice-chair when the chair is not present, and shall confine their remarks to one 
43.20 	subject under consideration or to be considered.
43.21 		Subd. 11.Right to general counsel. The Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission 
43.22 	has a right to retain general counsel. The general counsel of the advisory commission shall 
43.23 	be experienced and knowledgeable in the area of election law and voting rights and attend 
43.24 	all meetings of the commission unless excused. The general counsel shall, upon request, 
43.25 	give an opinion, either written or oral, on questions of law. The general counsel may make 
43.26 	recommendations to the commission and shall have the right to take part in all public 
43.27 	discussions of the commission, but shall have no vote. General counsel shall act as 
43.28 	parliamentarian of the commission and serve as its designated data practices act responsible 
43.29 	authority, in lieu of the executive director.
43.30 		Subd. 12.Voting. (a) Except as otherwise provided in these rules or by law, 
43.31 	administrative actions including calling to order, adjourning, scheduling hearings, and other 
43.32 	such actions shall require the approval of a majority of commissioners entitled to vote. The 
43.33 	vote is required for the following actions.
44.1 	(b) A majority of the appointed commissioners must approve rules and procedural 
44.2 	decisions.
44.3 	(c) Election of the chair and vice-chair requires a two-thirds affirmative vote with at 
44.4 	least one commissioner identifying with the largest political party in the state, one 
44.5 	commissioner identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and one 
44.6 	commissioner identifying with no political party or with a political party that is not the 
44.7 	largest or second largest in the state.
44.8 	(d) Adoption of the final plan for submission to the Minnesota Legislature and the 
44.9 	adoption of a revised plan after a plan is returned to the advisory commission from the 
44.10 	Minnesota Legislature requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of commissioners with at 
44.11 	least one commissioner identifying with the largest political party in the state, one 
44.12 	commissioner identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and one 
44.13 	commissioner identifying with no political party or with a political party that is not the 
44.14 	largest or second largest in the state.
44.15 		Subd. 13.Duty to vote; abstaining. (a) Commissioners present at a meeting shall vote 
44.16 	on every matter before the commission, unless otherwise excused or prohibited from voting 
44.17 	as follows:
44.18 	(1) a commissioner may abstain from voting if the commissioner:
44.19 	(i) has a conflict of interest, as set forth in subdivision 5, paragraph (a), or as defined by 
44.20 	law. An individual commissioner shall disclose the presence of a conflict of interest or raise 
44.21 	a potential conflict of interest when the agenda item is called, prior to the start of discussion 
44.22 	or deliberation. Should a conflict of interest become clear during the discussion, the 
44.23 	commissioner shall raise the existence of an actual or potential conflict at that time. An 
44.24 	individual commissioner may seek the opinion of the general counsel with experience and 
44.25 	expertise in the area of election law and voting rights on whether a conflict exists. This 
44.26 	opinion shall not be binding on the commission. The Citizens Advisory Redistricting 
44.27 	Commission shall decide, by majority vote of commissioners present, whether a conflict of 
44.28 	interest exists. A vote may be tabled, if necessary, to obtain the opinion of the general 
44.29 	counsel. A commissioner with a conflict of interest is prohibited from participating in any 
44.30 	discussion, debate, or decision on that issue; or
44.31 	(ii) lacks sufficient information about the issue to be decided. If a commissioner abstains 
44.32 	for this reason, they shall state for the record their intention to abstain and the reasons for 
44.33 	doing so prior to the vote. The abstaining commissioner shall not be restricted or prohibited 
44.34 	from participating in any discussion or debate on the issue; and
45.1 	(2) if any commissioner abstains from voting, a roll call vote shall be required on that 
45.2 	issue. The reasons for the abstention shall be entered into the minutes of the meeting at 
45.3 	which the vote is taken and be part of the official record.
45.4 	(b) The right to vote is limited to the commissioners present at the time the vote is taken. 
45.5 	Voting by proxy is prohibited.
45.6 	(c) All votes must be held and determined in public. Secret ballots are prohibited.
45.7 	(d) Prior to calling for a vote, the chair shall state the question being voted upon.
45.8 		Subd. 14.Manner of voting. Except as otherwise provided in these rules or by law, 
45.9 	voting shall be by a two-thirds affirmative vote using voice vote, roll call, or show of hands. 
45.10 	Roll call votes shall be taken when required in this section or by law, at the request of any 
45.11 	commissioner, or when the chair cannot determine the results of a voice vote.
45.12 		Subd. 15.Chair and vice-chair. (a) The Citizens Advisory Redistricting Commission 
45.13 	must elect a chair and vice-chair from among its members by a vote under subdivision 12, 
45.14 	paragraph (c). The chair and vice-chair shall not self-identify as belonging to the same 
45.15 	political party.
45.16 	(b) The nomination and election of the chair occurs first and the vice-chair occurs second.
45.17 	(c) All candidates must be given an equal amount of time to speak in support of their 
45.18 	candidacy, to be followed by a period of questions and answers.
45.19 	(d) The chair shall:
45.20 	(1) call to order and preside at all meetings;
45.21 	(2) preserve order and decorum and may speak to points of order in preference to other 
45.22 	commissioners;
45.23 	(3) decide all questions arising under this parliamentary authority in consultation with 
45.24 	the general counsel, subject to appeal and reversal by a majority of the commissioners 
45.25 	present;
45.26 	(4) enforce rules of procedure;
45.27 	(5) perform any other administrative or agenda duties as directed by the advisory 
45.28 	commission;
45.29 	(6) have all the same rights as other commissioners with respect to procedural matters, 
45.30 	debate, and voting except that the chair shall not vote on the appeal of a parliamentary ruling 
45.31 	by the chair;
46.1 	(7) approve expenditures associated with the commission for any individual expenditure 
46.2 	in excess of $5,000;
46.3 	(8) when both the chair and vice-chair are absent, the chair may designate another of its 
46.4 	commissioners to serve as acting chair during such absence or disability; and
46.5 	(9) establish committees and subcommittees by a majority vote of the commission with 
46.6 	the support of at least one vote from a member identifying with the largest political party 
46.7 	in the state, one vote from a member identifying with the second largest political party in 
46.8 	the state, and one vote from a member identifying with no political party or with a political 
46.9 	party that is not the largest or second largest in the state.
46.10 	(e) The vice-chair shall perform the duties of the chair when the chair is unavailable, 
46.11 	except as otherwise provided by law. The vice-chair shall act in the capacity of the chair in 
46.12 	the chair's absence. The vice-chair shall help facilitate group discussion on items before the 
46.13 	advisory commission. The vice-chair is also responsible for other duties as designated by 
46.14 	the chair.
46.15 		Subd. 16.Secretary. The executive director, or their designee, is secretary to the advisory 
46.16 	commission without vote, and in that capacity shall keep the official record of all proceedings 
46.17 	of the commission and furnish, under the direction of the commission, all technical services 
46.18 	that the commission deems necessary. The duties of the secretary shall also include:
46.19 	(1) facilitating the process for the selection of commissioners pursuant to subdivision 
46.20 	2, paragraphs (e) to (p), and replacement of commissioners pursuant to subdivision 4, 
46.21 	paragraph (h);
46.22 	(2) issuing a call convening the advisory commission by January 1st in the year of the 
46.23 	federal decennial census;
46.24 	(3) publishing the redistricting plan for each type of district adopted under subdivision 
46.25 	25 within 30 days of the adoption of the plan. This publication shall include the plan and 
46.26 	the material reports, reference materials, and data used in drawing it, including any 
46.27 	programming information used to produce and test the plan. The published materials shall 
46.28 	be such that an independent person is able to replicate the conclusion without any 
46.29 	modification of any of the published materials;
46.30 	(4) maintaining a public record of all proceedings of the advisory commission and 
46.31 	publishing and distributing each plan and required documentation. An adopted redistricting 
46.32 	plan shall become law upon submission to the secretary of state absent any legal action 
46.33 	resulting in a court finding constitutional violations and ordering new maps be drawn; and
47.1 	(5) taking and maintaining minutes of all advisory commission meetings including votes 
47.2 	on all official actions taken at those meetings. All decisions of the commission shall be 
47.3 	recorded, and the record of its decisions shall be readily available to any member of the 
47.4 	public as required by law and shall be provided without charge.
47.5 		Subd. 17.Orientation and training. (a) Orientation for members of the advisory 
47.6 	commission shall be coordinated by the Legislative Coordinating Commission.
47.7 	(b) Commissioners shall receive nonpartisan orientation, ongoing education, and training 
47.8 	on the purposes and activities of the advisory commission. Information may be presented 
47.9 	in a manner most convenient or useful to the commission including the use of interactive 
47.10 	or subject-matter expert presentations. Training should include insights from other states 
47.11 	operating under advisory citizens commissions.
47.12 	(c) Orientation shall be coordinated by nonpartisan Legislative Coordinating Commission 
47.13 	staff and must be completed within four weeks of the commission being formed.
47.14 		Subd. 18.Employment of personnel. The advisory commission shall be compensated 
47.15 	as prescribed in law. The Legislative Coordination Commission must provide the commission 
47.16 	with the services of nonpartisan experts, consultants, and support staff, as necessary to carry 
47.17 	out its duties pursuant to this section.
47.18 		Subd. 19.Public hearings in diverse state regions. (a) Prior to adopting a legislative 
47.19 	or congressional districting plan, the advisory commission must hold a minimum of 16 
47.20 	public hearings throughout the state, with at least eight hearings held before adopting 
47.21 	preliminary drafts of legislative or congressional district plans. The primary purpose of the 
47.22 	first eight public hearings is to request public input on how to define communities of interest 
47.23 	and to provide an opportunity for public comment from residents of that part of the state. 
47.24 	The commission must make reasonable efforts to schedule hearings in the evenings, on 
47.25 	weekends, and at other times that most residents of that region are able to attend.
47.26 	(b) By February 15 of each year ending in one, the advisory commission must hold at 
47.27 	least eight public hearings in diverse regions of the state, including southern Minnesota, 
47.28 	central Minnesota, Northern Minnesota, and the Twin Cities Metro Area, before adopting 
47.29 	preliminary drafts of legislative or congressional district plans. The primary purpose of 
47.30 	these first public hearings in each location is to request advice on how to define communities 
47.31 	of interest and to provide an opportunity for public testimony from residents of that 
47.32 	community. The commission must make reasonable efforts to schedule hearings in the 
47.33 	evenings, on weekends, and at other times that most residents from that region are able to 
47.34 	attend.
48.1 	(c) After completing the first round of public hearings to get public input on communities 
48.2 	of interest, the advisory commission must publish on its website preliminary drafts of the 
48.3 	legislative and congressional district plans. The commission also must publish the reports 
48.4 	for each preliminary draft prior to hearings discussing that draft. The advisory commission 
48.5 	must allow the public at least 14 days to submit comments to the commission after 
48.6 	publication. After those 14 days, the commission must then hold at least one additional 
48.7 	public hearing to allow for open public input and comment. Nonpartisan GIS experts, 
48.8 	consultants, and support staff shall be present to hear and consider public comment on the 
48.9 	proposed plans. The commission may require its general counsel to attend.
48.10 	(d) The advisory commission must make reasonable efforts to allow the public to submit 
48.11 	written testimony prior to a hearing and make copies of that testimony available to all 
48.12 	commissioners and the public prior to and at the hearings.
48.13 		Subd. 20.Internal communications. (a) The advisory commission may designate one 
48.14 	or more commission staff to communicate with commissioners regarding administrative 
48.15 	matters and may define the scope of the permitted communication. The designation must 
48.16 	be announced at the next public hearing following the designation.
48.17 	(b) A commissioner must not direct, request, suggest, or recommend to staff an 
48.18 	interpretation of a districting principle or a change to a district boundary, except during an 
48.19 	open meeting of the commission. Communication between retained counsel and members 
48.20 	of the commission or the designated commission staff does not violate the provisions of 
48.21 	this section.
48.22 		Subd. 21.External communications. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), 
48.23 	commissioners and staff must not communicate with anyone outside the commission 
48.24 	regarding the content of a plan, except at an open meeting of the commission or when 
48.25 	soliciting or receiving written communications regarding a plan that is the subject of a public 
48.26 	hearing.
48.27 	(b) The following external communications are expressly permitted:
48.28 	(1) a communication of general information about the commission, proceedings of the 
48.29 	commission, or redistricting, including questions or requests for information and responses 
48.30 	to or from commission staff;
48.31 	(2) testimony or documents submitted by a person for use at a public hearing;
48.32 	(3) a report submitted under subdivision 5, paragraph (a), clause (11); and
48.33 	(4) a communication required by chapter 13 or 13D.
49.1 		Subd. 22.Prohibitions on gifts and gratuities. The advisory commission, individual 
49.2 	commissioners, staff, attorneys, experts, and consultants may not directly or indirectly solicit 
49.3 	or accept any gift or loan of money, goods, services, or other thing of value greater than $5 
49.4 	for the benefit of any person or organization, which may influence the manner in which the 
49.5 	individual commissioner, staff, attorney, expert, or consultant performs their duties.
49.6 		Subd. 23.Reports of improper activity. (a) Advisory commission staff shall report to 
49.7 	the commission any attempt to exert improper influence over the staff in drafting plans.
49.8 	(b) A commissioner or commission staff shall report to the advisory commission chair 
49.9 	and vice-chair, any prohibited communication. The report must include a copy of a written 
49.10 	communication or a written summary of an oral communication.
49.11 	(c) A report under this subdivision must be made no later than three business days after 
49.12 	the attempt to exert improper influence or the prohibited communication, or before the next 
49.13 	meeting of the commission, whichever is earlier. If special circumstances make this 
49.14 	requirement impracticable, the report must be made at the following meeting of the 
49.15 	commission.
49.16 		Subd. 24.Data used. (a) The advisory commission shall use census data representing 
49.17 	the entire population of this state to draw congressional and legislative districts. Except 
49.18 	when required by law or for the purposes of drawing districts in compliance with provisions 
49.19 	of state or federal law, citizen voting age or citizen population, must not be used as the 
49.20 	method to calculate population equality. The commission may also consider demographic 
49.21 	trend data provided by the Minnesota state demographer and relevant election data.
49.22 	(b) The advisory commission shall use population data that reflects incarcerated persons 
49.23 	at their last known residence before incarceration.
49.24 		Subd. 25.Deadlines. (a) After completing the public hearings required by subdivision 
49.25 	19, but by May 1 of each year ending in one, the advisory commission shall submit plans 
49.26 	and its reports to the legislature for legislative and congressional districts. Each plan must 
49.27 	be accompanied by a report summarizing information and testimony received by the 
49.28 	redistricting commission in the course of the hearings and include any comments and 
49.29 	conclusions the advisory commission deems appropriate on the information and testimony 
49.30 	received at the hearings or otherwise presented. To submit a plan to the legislature, the 
49.31 	advisory commission must approve the plan by an affirmative vote of twelve members or 
49.32 	more, including at least one member identifying with the largest political party in the state, 
49.33 	one member identifying with the second largest political party in the state, and one member 
49.34 	identifying with no political party or with a political party that is not the largest or second 
50.1 	largest in the state. When the advisory commission approves a plan, the plan and its reports 
50.2 	must be published to the advisory commission's website.
50.3 	(b) The legislature intends that a bill be introduced to enact each plan received from the 
50.4 	advisory commission and that the bill be brought to a vote within one week in either the 
50.5 	senate or the house of representatives under a procedure or rule permitting no amendment. 
50.6 	The legislature further intends that the bill be brought to a vote in the second house within 
50.7 	one week after final passage in the first house.
50.8 	(c) If the secretary of the senate or chief clerk of the house of representatives notifies 
50.9 	the advisory commission that the first plan has failed, or the governor vetoes the first plan, 
50.10 	the commission shall submit a second plan within two weeks after it receives the notice. If 
50.11 	the legislature has adjourned the regular session in the year ending in one before the 
50.12 	commission submits a second plan, and no special session is called to consider the second 
50.13 	plan, then the commission must submit the second plan to the legislature at the opening of 
50.14 	its regular session in the year ending in two. The legislature intends that the second plan be 
50.15 	considered by the legislature under the same procedure provided for a first plan under 
50.16 	paragraph (b).
50.17 	(d) If the secretary of the senate or the chief clerk of the house of representatives notifies 
50.18 	the advisory commission that a second plan has failed, or the governor vetoes a second plan, 
50.19 	the commission shall submit a third plan within two weeks after it receives the notice. If 
50.20 	the legislature has adjourned the regular session in the year ending in one, before the 
50.21 	commission submits a third plan, and there is no special session called to consider the third 
50.22 	plan, then the commission must submit the third plan to the legislature prior to the opening 
50.23 	of its regular session in the year ending in two. The legislature intends that the third plan 
50.24 	be considered by the legislature under the same procedure provided for the first and second 
50.25 	plans under paragraph (b) whether it is being considered during the regular or a special 
50.26 	session with the exception that amendments by the legislature may be proposed.
50.27 	(e) If the advisory commission cannot reach an agreement on a plan for any reason, the 
50.28 	commission shall use the following procedure to adopt a plan for that type of district:
50.29 	(1) each commissioner may submit one proposed plan for each type of district to the 
50.30 	full commission for consideration;
50.31 	(2) each commissioner shall rank the plans submitted according to preference. Each plan 
50.32 	shall be assigned a point value inverse to its ranking among the number of choices, giving 
50.33 	the lowest ranked plan one point and the highest ranked plan a point value equal to the 
50.34 	number of plans submitted; and
51.1 	(3) the advisory commission shall adopt the plan receiving the highest total points, that 
51.2 	is also ranked among the top half of plans by at least two commissioners not affiliated with 
51.3 	the party of the commissioner submitting the plan, or in the case of a plan submitted by 
51.4 	nonaffiliated commissioners, is ranked among the top half of plans by at least two 
51.5 	commissioners affiliated with a major party. If plans are tied for the highest point total, the 
51.6 	executive director shall by lottery select the final plan from those plans.
51.7 	(f) If the legislature and governor have not approved a plan by October 1 of the year 
51.8 	ending in one, then the advisory commission must submit a map approved by the commission 
51.9 	to the Minnesota Supreme Court for review for adherence to state constitution and statutes.
51.10 	(g) If the legislature and governor have neither rejected the commission plans three 
51.11 	times, nor approved the commission plans by the statutory required date for plan approval 
51.12 	as provided in section 204B.14, and the court has found the commission plan to meet all 
51.13 	legal requirements, then the court shall order implementation of the commission plan in the 
51.14 	absence of a legislative plan.
51.15 	(h) Final approval of all plans, whether enacted by the legislature or as provided by court 
51.16 	order, must take place no later than the date provided in section 204B.14, subdivision 1a.
51.17 	(i) Notwithstanding subdivision 30, the established advisory commission must complete 
51.18 	its activity by October 1 in each year ending in one. Upon final approval of the advisory 
51.19 	commission's adopted plan by the legislature and governor, the plan must be communicated 
51.20 	to the secretary of state. The plan becomes effective for the following election upon filing 
51.21 	with the secretary of state. The commission must also publish the adopted plans and the 
51.22 	related reports on the redistricting commission's website.
51.23 		Subd. 26.Activity and evaluation report. Within 30 days of the enactment into law 
51.24 	or adoption by court order of both a legislative plan and a congressional plan, the advisory 
51.25 	commission must submit a report to the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the 
51.26 	secretary of the senate, the majority and minority leaders of each house of the legislature, 
51.27 	and the governor. At a minimum, the report must include a summary of the commission's 
51.28 	work, including the information required in subdivision 5, clause (15), and any recommended 
51.29 	changes to laws affecting redistricting. The report must also inform the legislature if the 
51.30 	commission determines that funds or other resources provided for the operation of the 
51.31 	commission were inadequate. A commissioner who voted against a redistricting plan may 
51.32 	submit a dissenting report, which shall be issued with the commission's report. The 
51.33 	commission must publish the report on its website.
52.1 		Subd. 27.Criminal liability as public officers. Members of the advisory commission 
52.2 	exercise the functions of a public officer for the purposes of sections 609.415 to 609.4751.
52.3 		Subd. 28.Data. The advisory commission is subject to chapter 13, except that a plan is 
52.4 	not public data until it has been submitted to the advisory commission for its consideration.
52.5 		Subd. 29.Lobbyist registration. Action by the redistricting commission is administrative 
52.6 	action for the purposes of section 10A.01, subdivisions 2 and 21.
52.7 		Subd. 30.Expiration. (a) The advisory commission expires 45 days after:
52.8 	(1) both a legislative and a congressional redistricting plan have been enacted into law 
52.9 	or adopted by court order; and
52.10 	(2) any legal challenges to the plans have been resolved.
52.11 	(b) If a court enjoins the use of a plan after the advisory commission expires, the court 
52.12 	enjoining the plan may direct a new commission to be appointed under this section to draft 
52.13 	a remedial plan for presentation to the legislature in accordance with deadlines established 
52.14 	by the court's order.

52.15 	Sec. 3. [2A.32] REDISTRICTING PRINCIPLES.
52.16 		Subdivision 1.Districting principles. The prohibitions and principles in this section 
52.17 	apply to both legislative and congressional districts.
52.18 		Subd. 2.Prohibitions (a) Districts must not be drawn to violate the Fourteenth and 
52.19 	Fifteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution or the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 
52.20 	as amended.
52.21 	(b) Districts must not be drawn to purposefully favor or disfavor a candidate or incumbent.
52.22 	(c) Districts must not be drawn using voter registration, voter turnout, voting history, or 
52.23 	party preference, including participation in the presidential nominating primary, general 
52.24 	election, voting patterns, and primary voting patterns, except for the purposes of verifying 
52.25 	the compliance of maps with the requirements of this section and of issuing the reports 
52.26 	required by section 2A.23.
52.27 	(d) Districts must not be drawn using the location of incumbents' or candidates' residences.
52.28 	(e) Districts must not be drawn using data subject to reporting or regulation under chapter 
52.29 	10A; section 201.091, subdivision 4a; United States Code, title 52, subtitle III; or United 
52.30 	States Code, title 26, subtitle H.
53.1 	(f) Districts must not be drawn with the effect of unduly favoring or disfavoring any 
53.2 	political party. Districts shall be subjected to a test of partisan fairness using the standard 
53.3 	of proportionality as the benchmark for fairness. Using four recent statewide elections, any 
53.4 	proposed Congressional or legislative plan must be close to achieving major-party seat share 
53.5 	proportional to the corresponding share of the popular vote in at least three out of the four 
53.6 	contests. The standard of closeness is one seat for Congressional contests and seven 
53.7 	percentage points for legislative contests. If a plan fails to meet this standard, it triggers a 
53.8 	rebuttable presumption of excessive partisan advantage. This may be rebutted if a court 
53.9 	determines that the degree of disproportionality was necessary in order to reasonably balance 
53.10 	the rules and criteria in effect for redistricting.
53.11 		Subd. 3.Priority of principles. Districts must be drawn in accordance with the principles 
53.12 	in this section. If districts cannot be drawn fully in accordance with the principles, a 
53.13 	districting plan must give priority to those principles in the order in which they are listed, 
53.14 	except when doing so would violate federal or state law.
53.15 		Subd. 4.Population equality. (a) Each congressional district must be as nearly equal 
53.16 	in population as practicable.
53.17 	(b) Each legislative district must be substantially equal in population. The population 
53.18 	of a legislative district must not deviate by more than plus or minus five percent from the 
53.19 	population of the ideal district.
53.20 		Subd. 5.Minority representation. (a) Districts must not dilute or diminish the equal 
53.21 	opportunity of racial, ethnic, and language minorities to participate in the political process 
53.22 	and to elect candidates of their choice, whether alone or in coalition with others.
53.23 	(b) Districts must provide racial minorities and language minorities who constitute less 
53.24 	than a voting-age majority of a district with an equal opportunity to substantially influence 
53.25 	the outcome of an election.
53.26 		Subd. 6.Preservation of Native Nations. The reservation lands of a federally recognized 
53.27 	Native Nation must be preserved to the extent practicable. Discontiguous portions of a 
53.28 	federally recognized Native Nation's reservation lands must be included in the same district, 
53.29 	and must not be divided more than necessary to meet constitutional requirements.
53.30 		Subd. 7.Communities of interest. Districts must minimize the division of identifiable 
53.31 	communities of interest. A community of interest may include a racial, ethnic, or linguistic 
53.32 	group or any group with shared experiences and concerns, including but not limited to 
53.33 	geographic, governmental, regional, social, cultural, historic, socioeconomic, occupational, 
54.1 	trade, environmental, or transportation interests. Communities of interest shall not include 
54.2 	relationships with political parties, incumbents, or candidates.
54.3 		Subd. 8.Convenience and contiguity. Each district must be convenient and contiguous. 
54.4 	A district is convenient if it allows reasonable ease of travel within the district. Contiguity 
54.5 	by water is sufficient if the water is not a serious obstacle to travel within the district. A 
54.6 	district with areas that touch only at a point is not contiguous.
54.7 		Subd. 9.Nesting. A representative district must not be divided in the formation of a 
54.8 	senate district.
54.9 		Subd. 10.Political subdivisions. Districts must minimize the division of counties, cities, 
54.10 	towns except when (1) the division occurs because a portion of a city or town is not 
54.11 	contiguous with another portion of the same city or town, or (2) despite the division, the 
54.12 	known population of any affected county, city, or town, remains wholly located within a 
54.13 	single district.
54.14 		Subd. 11.Compactness. Districts must be reasonably compact. More than one measure 
54.15 	must be used to evaluate compactness of districts.
54.16 		Subd. 12.Natural geographic boundaries. Districts must be drawn to respect natural 
54.17 	geographic boundaries to the extent possible, including bodies of water, mountain ranges, 
54.18 	and other significant geological and topographic features.
54.19 		Subd. 13.Numbering. (a) Congressional district numbers must begin with district one 
54.20 	in the southeast corner of the state and end with the district with the highest number in the 
54.21 	northeast corner of the state.
54.22 	(b) Legislative districts must be numbered in a regular series, beginning with house of 
54.23 	representatives district 1A in the northwest corner of the state and proceeding across the 
54.24 	state from west to east, north to south. In a county that includes more than one whole senate 
54.25 	district, the districts must be numbered consecutively.
54.26 		Subd. 14.Additional principles. The advisory commission established in section 2A.20 
54.27 	may adopt additional principles by a two-thirds vote, but the additional principles must not 
54.28 	be prioritized above the principles in the Constitution of Minnesota or in this section.
54.29 		Subd. 15.Severability. The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of 
54.30 	this section or its application is held to be invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other 
54.31 	provisions of this section, which shall be given the maximum possible effect in the absence 
54.32 	of the invalid provision.

55.1 	Sec. 4. [2A.33] LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COMMISSION; 
55.2 	REDISTRICTING .
55.3 		Subdivision 1.Administrative and professional support. The Legislative Coordinating 
55.4 	Commission shall provide administrative, professional, and support services to the 
55.5 	commission established in section 2A.31.  The responsibilities assigned to the Legislative 
55.6 	Coordinating Commission executive director may be implemented through a process or 
55.7 	delegation to an individual responsible to the executive director to carry out the assigned 
55.8 	activities.
55.9 		Subd. 2.Data used. (a) The geographic areas and population counts used in maps, tables, 
55.10 	and legal descriptions of legislative and congressional districts considered by the legislature 
55.11 	and the redistricting commission must be those used by the GIS Office. The population 
55.12 	counts shall be the block population counts provided to the state under Public Law 94-171 
55.13 	after each decennial census, subject to correction of any errors acknowledged by the United 
55.14 	States Census Bureau.
55.15 	(b) Nothing in this subdivision prohibits the use of additional data, except as provided 
55.16 	by sections 2A.31 and 2A.32.
55.17 	(c) The GIS Office must make this data available to the public on the GIS Office's 
55.18 	website.
55.19 		Subd. 3.Publication; consideration of plans. A plan must not be finalized until the 
55.20 	plan's block equivalency file has been submitted to the GIS Office in a form prescribed by 
55.21 	the GIS Office. The block equivalency file must show the district to which each census 
55.22 	block has been assigned. The GIS Office shall publish each plan submitted to it on the GIS 
55.23 	Office website.
55.24 		Subd. 4.Reports. Publication of a plan shall include the reports described as follows:
55.25 	(1) a population equality report that lists each district in the plan, its population as the 
55.26 	total number of persons, and deviations from the ideal as both the number of persons and 
55.27 	as a percentage of the population. The report must also show the populations of the largest 
55.28 	and smallest districts and the overall range of deviations of districts;
55.29 	(2) a minority voting-age population report that lists for each district the voting age 
55.30 	population of each racial, ethnic, or language minority and the total minority voting age 
55.31 	population, according to the categories recommended by the United States Department of 
55.32 	Justice. The report must also specify each district with 30 percent or more total minority 
55.33 	population;
56.1 	(3) a contiguity report that lists each district that is noncontiguous either because two 
56.2 	areas of a district do not touch or because they are linked by a point;
56.3 	(4) if a plan preserves a community of interest, a communities of interest report that 
56.4 	includes maps of the plan with a layer identifying the census blocks within each preserved 
56.5 	community of interest and includes a description of the research process used to identify 
56.6 	each community of interest. The report must also list each district to which a community 
56.7 	of interest has been assigned, the number of communities of interest that are split, and the 
56.8 	number of times communities of interest were split;
56.9 	(5) a political subdivision and Native Nation reservation splits report that lists each split 
56.10 	of a county, city, township, federally recognized Native Nation reservation, unorganized 
56.11 	territory, and precinct, and the district to which each portion of a split division is assigned. 
56.12 	The report also must show the number of subdivisions split and the number of times a 
56.13 	subdivision is split;
56.14 	(6) a plan components report that lists for each district the names and populations of the 
56.15 	counties within it and, if a county is split between or among districts, the names and 
56.16 	populations of the portion of the split county and each of the split county's whole or partial 
56.17 	cities, townships, unorganized territories, and precincts within each district;
56.18 	(7) a measures of compactness report that lists for each district the results of the multiple 
56.19 	measures of compactness, including but not limited to Reock, Polsby-Popper, Minimum 
56.20 	Convex Hull, Population Polygon, Population Circle, Ehrenburg, Perimeter, and 
56.21 	Length-Width measures. The report must also state for each district the sum of the district's 
56.22 	perimeter and the mean of the measurements. The report may list additional tests of 
56.23 	compactness that are accepted in political science and statistics literature; and
56.24 	(8) a partisanship report that lists multiple measures of partisan symmetry. The report 
56.25 	may list additional tests of partisan bias that are accepted in political science and statistics 
56.26 	literature.

56.27 	Sec. 5. [204B.136] REDISTRICTING OF LOCAL ELECTION DISTRICTS.
56.28 		Subdivision 1.Redistricting principles. The principles provided in section 2A.32 must 
56.29 	be applied to the redistricting of:
56.30 	(1) county commissioner districts, park districts, and soil and water conservation 
56.31 	supervisor districts in counties with a population greater than 100,000;
56.32 	(2) wards in cities with a population greater than 60,000; and
57.1 	(3) Metropolitan Council districts.
57.2 		Subd. 2.Population variance. A district or ward in a plan subject to this section must 
57.3 	be as equal as practicable and not deviate by more than plus or minus ten percent from the 
57.4 	population of the ideal district or ward.

57.5 	Sec. 6. APPROPRIATIONS; LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COMMISSION.
 57.6 	$....... in fiscal year .... and $....... in fiscal year .... are appropriated from the general fund 
57.7 	to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for costs associated with implementation of 
57.8 	this act, including costs to support the redistricting commission established in Minnesota 
57.9 	Statutes, chapter 2A. These are onetime appropriations.

57.10 	Sec. 7. REPEALER.
 57.11 	Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 2.91, subdivision 1, is repealed.

57.12 	Sec. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 57.13 	This article is effective January 1, 2025, if the constitutional amendment proposed in 
57.14 	article 1 is not ratified.

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 24-07145 

2.91 REDISTRICTING PLANS.Subdivision 1.Distribution. 
Upon enactment of a redistricting plan for the legislature or for Congress, the Legislative Coordinating Commission shall deposit the plan with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall provide copies of the relevant portions of the redistricting plan to each county auditor, who shall provide a copy of the relevant portions of the plan to each municipal clerk within the county. The secretary of state, with the cooperation of the commissioner of administration, shall make copies of the plan file, maps, and tables available to the public for the cost of publication. The revisor of statutes shall code a metes and bounds description of the districts in Minnesota Statutes. 

Subdivision 1.Distribution. 
Upon enactment of a redistricting plan for the legislature or for Congress, the Legislative Coordinating Commission shall deposit the plan with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall provide copies of the relevant portions of the redistricting plan to each county auditor, who shall provide a copy of the relevant portions of the plan to each municipal clerk within the county. The secretary of state, with the cooperation of the commissioner of administration, shall make copies of the plan file, maps, and tables available to the public for the cost of publication. The revisor of statutes shall code a metes and bounds description of the districts in Minnesota Statutes.