House approves mid‑decade redistricting bill after heated debate over legality and minority impact

The House of Representatives approved House Bill 7,002 on third and final consideration after hours of floor debate in a special session called to revise congressional districts.

Opponents repeatedly argued the session itself was improper and that the bill would weaken minority representation. Representative Powell said, "The very fact that we are here is illegal," and later called the proceedings "a shame," urging colleagues to vote against the measure. Representative Johnson pressed for transparency amendments, arguing that "the public deserves to know who helped draw the maps" and that proposed maps, shape files and demographic data should be released before passage.

Supporters said the measure removed a statutory sentence that otherwise permitted the House to act. Leader Lambert framed the bill narrowly: "This bill just deletes the last sentence of TCA 2‑16‑102 that allows us to enter into this conversation." He renewed the motion and the House voted to pass the bill.

Several late-filed amendments that would have required written findings on minority‑voting impacts, independent commissions, or public disclosure repeatedly failed to get the supermajority vote required for consideration. Floor votes to consider amendments routinely fell short of the 0.667 threshold, leaving many transparency and voting‑rights protections unadopted.

The passage sets in motion revised congressional lines for the 2026 elections and prompted a chorus of floor warnings that the change will produce voter confusion and legal scrutiny. The bill was declared passed by the Speaker following the clerk’s announcement of the vote result.