McLean County Times

State Senate Republican Deputy Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) is co-sponsoring the People’s Independent Maps Act, which would create an independent commission to handle the task of redrawing Illinois legislative district maps. 

Under Senate Bill 1325, the state's Supreme Court would appoint 16 independent, citizen commissioners to serve on the Independent Redistricting Commission. Members would be split evenly in political affiliation and represent the state's racial, ethnic and gender demographics.

"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," Rezin said in an April 8 Facebook post. "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."

The legislation takes language from SJRCA 0004, a constitutional amendment for an independent redistricting commission that was proposed in 2019.

The constitutional amendment received bipartisan support, garnering 37 co-sponsors in the Senate, including 18 Democrats.

"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," Rezin said.