Rock Island Today

Senate Bill 1325, the People's Independent Maps Act, is gaining bipartisan support in Illinois as hearings continue.

Introduced by Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods), House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), Senate Republican Caucus Chair Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) and House Assistant Minority Leader Tim Butler (R-Springfield), the bill would allow for the Illinois Supreme Court to appoint a 16-person independent commission to redraw the new districts maps. 

"Over the past several weeks, we have listened and participated in redistricting hearings where we heard witnesses who testified over and over again on the lack of transparency and communication in this redistricting process. The People’s Independent Maps Act, Senate Bill 1325, is about ensuring that our legislative maps are NOT drawn by politicians who benefit directly from unfair maps. An identical version of this legislation was introduced as a constitutional amendment just last year and garnered the support of 18 Senate Democrats and all Republicans. Given the bipartisan support this legislation had, it is our hope that we can move this legislation through and give the people of Illinois a truly fair map," Sen. Win Stoller (R-Peoria) wrote in an April 2 Facebook post.

The People's Independent Maps Act uses identical language from SJRCA 0004 that was introduced in 2019 by Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) and acted as a constitutional amendment for an independent redistricting commission. This resolution had 37 co-sponsors in the Senate and included 18 Democrats. A similar amendment in 2016, co-sponsored by House Speaker Chris Welsh (D-Hillside), was approved with 105 yes votes. 

Also in 2016, former President Barack Obama spoke at the Illinois House Chamber where he called upon lawmakers to change the way districts were drawn after receiving the 2020 census data. Government groups have called for an independent commission for decades and more than 600,000 citizens signed a petition supporting the commission in 2015 and 2016. 

Current Illinois law allows for legislators to draw and approve a map by June 30, and allows legislators to recuse themselves from the map process. 

If passed, Senate Bill 1325 would exclude lawmakers, lobbyists, state employees or anyone affiliated with the government from being appointed to the independent commission. The commission would also represent both parties equality, include people that reflect "the ethnic, gender and racial demographics of the state" and be required to release a map within 30 days of receiving the census redistricting data.