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Minutes for HB2737 - Committee on Redistricting

Short Title

Proposing state representative redistricting plan free state three.

Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 16, 2022

Chairman Croft opened the hearing of HB2737.

Jordan Milholland, Kansas Legislative Research Department, reviewed Freestate 3 map with the committee. Mr. Milholland reviewed separate sections of the map for major cities with multiple district areas. Mr. Milholland also reviewed population deviations for the committee as well. (Attachment 1)

Mr. Milholland answered questions on issues with map resolution to include city lines with precinct lines. Mr. Milholland stated that during the interim there will be single maps with each district with more detail.

Connie Brown Collins, Voter Rights Network of Wyandotte County, provided testimony in opposition of Freestate 3. She stated there was not enough time to review the map and needed more detailed information on areas of the map referencing schools, street names, and landmarks. She also stated that there needs to be more time for the public to review the map and able to submit testimony for the committee. (Attachment 2)

Thomas Witt, Equality Kansas, provided testimony in opposition of Freestate 3. He stated that there needs to be a continuation of representation for the LGBTQ community. Mr. Witt discussed how one district has been singled out to remove the representation that is needed. Mr. Witt also stated that he wants to make sure the committee takes into consideration to make sure the people of each district have the correct representation. (Attachment 3)

Mr. Milholland answered questions on map detail and stated that an overlay would be possible on request to compare the current districts to the new districts to see the changes.

Committee members asked questions to the conferees.

Sherri Grogan, Private Citizen, testified in opposition to Freestate 3. She lives in House District 38 which is a very military populated and vote usually in their home districts which is not in Kansas. She also reviewed a pie chart that contained numbers and percentages breakdown of registered voters. She also stated that the new map proposes the Leavenworth community of interest is split across multiple districts and that a single school district is split across three districts. (Attachment 4)

Committee members asked questions to the conferees.

Jordan Milholland, Kansas Legislative Research Department, answered a question on if they were allowed to consider voting districts or had to stick to population only. When drawing the districts we can only consider population and not voting districts.

Jason Long, Kansas Revisor of Statutes, stated there was a provision in the Kansas Constitution to adjust population for military installations and other areas. That was removed a couple of years back to strictly use population for districts.

Jeffery Howards, Chairman, Leavenworth County Democratic Party, testified in opposition to Freestate 3. He stated he has lived in the Leavenworth area for twenty years. He stated how Leavenworth has been gerrymandered and needs to maintain continuity of Leavenworth as much as possible and not to splinter off certain voting districts. (Attachment 5) (Attachment 6)

Written Testimony in support of HB2737 was submitted by:

Written Testimony in opposition of HB2737 was submitted by:

Chairman Croft closed the hearing on HB2737.

Chairman Croft opened up discussion on renumbering districts. Discussion ensued between the committee.

Chairman Croft adjourned the meeting at 1:05pm and committee will meet again at 12:00pm on March 17th, 2022.