Senate Judiciary Committee advances contested congressional map amendment, sends SB7004 to finance

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 7004, a proposed congressional redistricting amendment, sending the measure to the Finance Committee after a 9–2 roll-call vote. The committee adopted the map schedule as an amendment and proceeded with public testimony and questioning before taking the final vote.

Senator Stevens, the bill sponsor, framed the item as a map-focused amendment whose final amendment language would follow, saying the panel would "vote on the schedule" today while the detailed language is completed. During the hearing, a broad coalition of witnesses and lawmakers warned the proposed lines would split Shelby County and dilute the voice of Memphis in Congress.

Attorney Walter Bailey of Memphis testified that the proposed map would "fragment Congressional District 9" and later said the new district "stretches 200 miles," a configuration he called an "absurdity" that would dilute voters' influence. Stacey Abrams told the committee the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision had "eviscerated section 2 of the Voting Rights Act," and argued that the timing and speed of the process risked silencing voters of color. Congressman Steve Cohen said splitting the 9th District would reduce constituent access to federal resources and services he said he has helped secure, including nearly $400,000,000 in federal support for a Mississippi River bridge project.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on procedural questions: who drew the lines, whether race was a factor, why the special session was used, and whether public input had been solicited before the maps were drafted. The sponsor replied repeatedly that the maps were drawn to "reduce the risk of future legal challenges" and to "maximize the Republican potential to maintain a majority in the United States House of Representatives." Several senators asked whether the compressed timeline would create voter confusion because filing deadlines and election preparations had already been set under prior lines.

The committee's recorded roll call on the final motion was: Ratbury (no), Harshberger (aye), Lamar (no), Pote (aye), Roberts (aye), Rose (aye), Seale (aye), Stevens (aye), Taylor (aye), White (aye), Chairman Gardenhire (aye), yielding 9 ayes and 2 noes. The committee chair announced SB7004 will proceed to the Finance Committee for further consideration.

The committee also discussed related bills and alternate maps during the session; next steps will be determined by the Finance Committee's schedule.