Senate committee reports HJ6007 after hour of debate over mid‑decade redistricting option

The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee reported House Joint Resolution 6007 to the floor on a party‑line, 8‑6 vote after more than an hour of questioning and public testimony.

Delegate Willett, the resolution’s patron, told the committee the measure creates "a narrow temporary exception allowing the Virginia General Assembly to modify 1 or more congressional districts between the regular, 10 year or decennial reapportionments" if another state withdraws congressional districts middecade for reasons other than completing a court‑ordered redistricting. "It lets the voters decide, whether there's more redistricting or not," Willett said, stressing the measure itself would not draw lines and would expire in 2030.

Supporters said the amendment preserves a path for voters to respond to what they called unprecedented federal pressure and actions in other states. Tram Nguyen of New Virginia Majority said the constitutional amendment process "ultimately" leaves the decision to voters and noted that…