Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR 2) sponsored by Senator Bryan King proposes a significant amendment to the Arkansas Constitution that would change how the state handles the drawing of district lines for the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Here's a detailed breakdown:

Current System:

Currently, Arkansas has a "Board of Apportionment" consisting of the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. This board is responsible for drawing the district lines for state legislative and congressional seats after each federal decennial census.

Proposed Changes:

SJR 2 would create a new Arkansas Apportionment Commission and significantly alter the role of the Board of Apportionment. Here's how:

1. Creation of the Arkansas Apportionment Commission:

   • Membership: 9 members, with 3 appointed by each of the following: the Governor, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General.
   • Qualifications: Members must be registered voters and cannot be lobbyists, elected officials, or hold certain other political positions. The commission must include at least one person educated in mathematics, one attorney, and one person competent in computer-assisted cartography. The are additional prohibitions, such as not being related to a lobbyist, elected official, etc.
   • Term: 10-year terms, beginning on January 15th following each federal decennial census.
   • Responsibilities: The commission will be responsible for drawing the district maps for the Arkansas House, Arkansas Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives.

2. Revised Role of the Board of Apportionment:

   • The Board of Apportionment (Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General) will no longer draw the district maps themselves.
   • Instead, they will approve or reject the maps proposed by the Arkansas Apportionment Commission.
   • The board can reject the commission's maps up to three times. If they reject the maps three times, the Arkansas Supreme Court will draw the districts.

3. Districting Criteria:

   • The commission must prioritize the following criteria when drawing maps (in this order):
     • Population equality
     • Compliance with federal civil rights laws
     • Contiguity (districts must be a single, unbroken shape)
     • Avoiding the division of cities, counties, and school districts
     • Compactness (districts should be reasonably shaped)
     • Avoiding the division of areas with geographical features like mountains or rivers
     • Drawing House districts within Senate districts (nesting)
   • The commission is explicitly prohibited from considering:
     • Political affiliation of residents
     • Previous election results
     • Residence of incumbent elected officials
     • Communities of interest
     • Any demographic information other than population

4. Transparency and Public Input:

   • The commission must hold at least one public hearing in each congressional district.
   • They must release at least three different map proposals for public comment at least 30 days before the first hearing.
   • Any revised maps must also be released for public comment at least 30 days before a final vote.
   • The commission is subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

5. Effective Date:

   • The amendment, if approved by voters, would take effect on January 1, 2027.

In summary: SJR 2 proposes a fundamental shift in how Arkansas handles redistricting. It moves away from a system where elected officials have direct control over drawing district lines and towards a more independent and transparent process with greater public input. This represents a significant departure from the existing law and could have a major impact on the state's political landscape.

Next Steps:

SJR 2 needs to be approved by a majority of both the Arkansas House and Senate. If approved, it will then be placed on the ballot for voters to decide in the next general election. If a majority of voters approve the amendment, it will become part of the Arkansas Constitution.