Today, October 5, 2021, the Iowa Senate rejected the first Legislative and Congressional District Plan. The plan, SF620, failed to pass 18-32, thus triggering the need for the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) to prepare a second proposed Legislative and Congressional District Plan for consideration.
The LSA has 35 days to prepare a second plan at which time the Iowa General Assembly will reconvene to consider that plan. If the legislature does not approve the second proposed redistricting plan, LSA has another 35 days to create a third plan.
That being said, the Iowa Supreme Court issued an order establishing a deadline of December 1, 2021, for the General Assembly to approve a plan. If the second plan is rejected, it will be very challenging for the General Assembly to approve a third map before the December 1 deadline. If this occurs, the Supreme Court will make the final decision on the map in accordance with Iowa Code Chapter 42.
We will continue to keep you updated as the redistricting process continues.
