Georgia CommonsHR 13: Racial minorities in legislative reapportionment and redistricting; protect - CA
Last action June 20, 2026 · House Second Readers
A proposed Georgia constitutional amendment would bar the General Assembly from drawing legislative, congressional, or other state election districts in ways that deny racial minorities an equal chance to participate in elections or elect candidates of their choice.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia's constitution currently requires the General Assembly to redraw Senate and House districts after each U.S. Census, but it does not include an explicit protection for racial minorities in how those lines are drawn. This resolution proposes adding such a protection directly to the state constitution. The amendment would apply not just to state legislative districts but also to congressional districts and any other districts used to elect state officers. It would prohibit drawing those maps with either the intent or the effect of denying or reducing racial minorities' equal opportunity to take part in the political process or to elect representatives of their choosing. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it must be approved by Georgia voters in a statewide referendum before it takes effect, using a yes or no ballot question specified in the resolution.
What the bill does
- Adds new constitutional language barring state legislative district maps from being drawn to deny or abridge racial minorities' equal opportunity to participate in elections.
- Extends the same protection to congressional districts and any other districts used to elect state officers, not just General Assembly seats.
- Prohibits maps drawn with either the intent or the effect of diminishing racial minorities' ability to elect their preferred representatives.
- Sends the proposed constitutional change to Georgia voters for ratification or rejection via a statewide ballot question.
Who it affects
Georgia voters generally, especially racial minority communities whose voting power could be affected by redistricting; the General Assembly, which draws legislative and congressional maps; and candidates for state and congressional office whose districts are shaped by these maps.
Why it matters
If ratified, this would put an explicit anti-discrimination standard for redistricting into Georgia's constitution itself, giving racial minority voters a state constitutional basis, separate from federal law, to challenge maps that reduce their voting influence or ability to elect chosen candidates.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends Article III, Section II, Paragraph II of the Georgia Constitution to add language protecting racial minorities in redistricting.
- The new language applies to Senate and House districts, congressional districts, and any other districts for electing state officers.
- The protection covers both discriminatory intent and discriminatory effect in how district lines are drawn.
- Section 2 requires the amendment to be submitted to voters for ratification, specifying the exact ballot question wording.
- The amendment becomes part of the Georgia Constitution only if approved by voters in the referendum.
From the bill
“shall not be drawn with the intent or effect of denying or abridging the equal opportunity of racial minorities to participate in the political process or to diminish their ability to elect representatives of their choice.”
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
- Samuel Park (D, HD-107)
- Tanya Miller (D, HD-062)
- Saira Draper (D, HD-090)
- Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
- Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
Topics
- redistricting
- voting rights
- constitutional amendment
- legislative reapportionment
- racial minorities