Creating the Independent Redistricting Commission of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance

HB 5252 creates an Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw West Virginia's congressional and state legislative district lines after each census, directly affecting how voting districts are drawn for elections. The commission, composed of six members (three from each major party with geographic diversity), must develop maps following strict criteria like population equality, publish draft maps for public comment, and submit final proposals to both legislative chambers for approval. Members receive no salary but are reimbursed for expenses, and the process requires transparency through public input and adherence to constitutional requirements. The bill aims to replace partisan redistricting with a structured, impartial process overseen by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.