Tennessee state senators to consider redistricting proposals

The Redistricting Committee of the state Senate will meet Tuesday to review district maps submitted by the public.

Republicans in the state legislature control the process and will have the final say over where district boundaries are set. Lawmakers must vote on the final plan during the upcoming legislative session.

Federal law requires that legislative maps disperse population evenly after every census, resulting in shifts in where boundaries are drawn.

Democrats in the chamber released their proposal ahead of a meeting. Their proposal is one of several that have been submitted to the legislature. 

State Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, says his group tried to preserve the current districts but also make sure they reflect what they’ve heard from a series of town halls held around the state. 

He says what matters most is producing a map that keeps communities together. 

“We look forward to looking at what other ideas are out there, and getting feedback from the public and voters across the state on what makes sense and what doesn’t,” said Yarbro.