Senate committee advances SB4 redistricting plan after hours of public testimony; vote 6-3

A Senate committee on Sunday voted to send Senate Bill 4, a mid‑decade congressional redistricting proposal based on map C2308, to the full Senate after several hours of public testimony and debate. The committee reported the bill favorably by a 6‑3 roll call.

Committee members and the bill’s author framed the measure as a technical redraw of districts; many public witnesses and civil‑rights groups called it a partisan and racial gerrymander. Sen. King, the bill’s author and chairing senator for the hearing, said the map "meets the 3 objectives" he had set: "The first…is that it be legal," to “perform better for Republicans,” and to be "much more compact than the current congressional redistricting map." He answered questions at the end of the hearing but said he had not personally drafted the map and that it originated from the House filing.

Why it matters: SB4 would redraw Texas’ congressional boundaries between regular decennial cycles. Supporters argue redistricting is lawful and improves compactness; critics -- including voting‑rights lawyers, civil‑rights groups and hundreds of public witnesses -- say the plan dilutes the electoral power of communities of color and was rushed during an emergency period of flood recovery.

Most important actions and outcomes

- Adoption of prior record: Sen. Hinojosa moved to "adopt the complete record of all witnesses, written testimonies submitted, and discussions" from the prior (first‑call) special session into the current session’s record; Sen. Miles seconded the motion and members recorded the motion as adopted. The committee accepted that prior…