Nevada Legislature: Bill would have commission, not lawmakers, do redistricting

Nevada lawmakers are reviewing a bill that would have an appointed panel redraw voting districts instead of the Legislature.

Republican Assemblyman Lynn Stewart presented AB 252 on Thursday to the Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee.

The bill would create a five-person commission to present redistricting options to the Legislature the year after a census.

Majority and minority parties would appoint four members and the state’s chief justice would appoint the fifth.

The Legislature would be able to change or discard the commission’s recommended districts. Commission members wouldn’t be allowed to run for state or local office for five years after approval.

Democratic Assemblyman Elliot Anderson said he was concerned the proposal could draw the state Supreme Court into a redistricting process that’s ended with court action in the past.