Senator Yarbrough's alternative map fails in committee, 2–9

Senator Century Yarbrough presented an alternative congressional map (filed as SB7006), telling the Judiciary Committee the plan is more compact, respects counties and cities, and was developed through a months-long public process. Yarbrough said his map "scored 17% better on the Rio scale" and performed better on other compactness metrics compared with the map before the committee.

Despite the presentation, the committee voted to reject the alternate map. The recorded roll call showed two aye votes (Senator Ratbury and Senator Lamar) and nine no votes, and the motion failed in committee. Yarbrough urged senators to delay effective dates or amend on the floor to avoid affecting upcoming elections; the committee instead advanced the other map (SB7004) to Finance and moved SB7003 to general subcommittee later in the session.

Yarbrough argued his map kept Memphis intact and produced a majority-minority district by preserving city boundaries rather than using racial criteria in district design. He asked the committee to consider a later effective date to avoid disrupting candidate filings and election administration.