The House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee (which has jurisdiction over constitutional amendments, regardless of the subject matter) today killed a flagship item on Governor Larry Hogan’s legislative agenda, turning down a measure to change the way legislative districts are drawn.

HB 385 proposes a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters in the next general election, requires the appointment of a General Assembly and Congressional Legislative Redistricting and Apportionment Commission. The commission must divide the State into consecutively numbered legislative districts that conform to existing constitutional provisions and create as many congressional districts as there are representatives in Congress apportioned to Maryland.

The cross-file to the bill, SB 252, was heard by the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on March 3, 2017.

Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2017 legislative session here.