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Informational hearing previews AB 604 maps proposed for a one-time voter referendum if ACA 8 passes
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Summary
At an informational hearing, authors and supporters described AB 604, a set of proposed congressional maps that would be used if voters approve ACA 8. Authors said maps preserve much of the independent commission'drawn districts, while opponents and former commission members warned against supplanting the independent process.
The Assembly Elections Committee held an informational hearing on Aug. 19 to preview Assembly Bill 604, a package of proposed congressional maps the Legislature would offer to voters if ACA 8 (the proposed constitutional amendment) is approved. AB 604 does not itself change law in the committee's informational form, but authors presented the maps and explained the rationale for the proposed lines.
Majority Leader (author) presented the maps and described them as a narrow response to partisan mid‑decade redistricting in other states. "If California voters approve this plan, the temporary maps only happen if DC Republicans and the Republican led states push through mid decade partisan maps first," the author said. Supporters emphasized that the maps are intended to respect communities of interest and that, by some metrics cited in testimony, they split fewer cities and kept more residents in their existing districts than certain publicly circulated alternative plans.
Several former Citizens Redistricting Commission members and good‑government witnesses urged caution. Former CRC chair Cynthia Dye said the CRC considered over 35,000 public comments in developing its maps and urged the Legislature not to supplant the independent process. Former commissioners emphasized the transparency and community input processes that characterized the CRC’s work and suggested that, if a mid‑cycle response were necessary, the CRC should be funded to redraw maps under full public process.
Authors and technical witnesses said AB 604 was developed to follow traditional redistricting criteria, to maintain compactness, and to reduce splits in some cities; they noted some late adjustments were made to the plan. One technical witness said the maps would be posted in the voter pamphlet and made available to the public for the Nov. 4 special election should ACA 8 and the rest of the package move forward.
Why it matters: AB 604 shows the specific lines that would be presented to voters under the ACA 8 / SB 280 package. The maps and the process for describing them in the voter pamphlet will be central to public debate if the constitutional amendment moves to the ballot.
What’s next: AB 604 was presented as informational only at this hearing; authors said the maps would be part of the voter information materials if the package advances. Committee members and stakeholders will continue to review the line‑drawing details and public reaction.
Ending — Authors said the maps are based on the CRC'drawn baseline and adjusted to respond to partisan mid‑decade changes elsewhere; opponents said any mid‑cycle mapmaking should remain subject to the independent and transparent CRC process.
