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Senate approves congressional redistricting Plan L, 23–4; sends SB 5001 to House
Summary
The Utah Senate passed Senate Bill 5001 (Plan L), a four‑district congressional redistricting plan that the committee reported out 10–1 after statewide hearings. The measure passed 23–4 with two absences and was referred to the House.
Senator Bramble presented Senate Bill 5001, the congressional redistricting plan known as Plan L, to the Utah Senate and urged final passage after a two‑week process of committee deliberations and public hearings across the state. "The day of reckoning has finally arrived," Bramble said as he summarized the outreach and committee work that led to the proposal.
The plan, Bramble said, resulted from committee hearings in Salt Lake and subsequent town hearings in Provo, Price, St. George, Park City, Ogden and elsewhere. After public input and reconciliation of competing proposals (plans G, I and J), the committee settled on Plan L, which was reported out of committee by a 10–1 vote. Bramble said the draft follows adopted redistricting principles, foremost among them that congressional districts be "as nearly equal as practicable" in population; he reported three districts at 558,292 residents and one at 558,293 based on the February census.
Why it matters: The measure redraws Utah’s four congressional districts and sets the boundaries the state would use if it retains or gains seats in future apportionment. Supporters called Plan L a bipartisan compromise that balances urban and rural interests; opponents criticized the process and raised constitutional questions.
During floor debate several senators thanked committee staff but expressed reservations about the process. Senator Arendt said voters, not legislators, should choose their representatives and criticized the involvement of participants with "vested interests," though she voted in favor to secure a fourth seat. Senator Bell explained his "no" vote, saying he had "constitutional concerns" about what he characterized as bargaining related to a Washington, D.C., seat. Other speakers, including Senator McCoy, said they supported the map while urging consideration of a future independent, nonpartisan commission to draw boundaries.
The Senate voted under suspension of the rules to consider the bill for final passage and then held a roll call. The clerk announced the result: SB 5001 passed the Senate 23–4 with 2 absent and was referred to the House for its further action.
Next step: The bill was transmitted to the House for consideration there.
