TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida House committee is meeting on Thursday as state lawmakers inch their way toward a possible mid-decade congressional redistricting.
The Florida House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The hourlong meeting will feature an introductory presentation on redistricting, according to the meeting packet posted on the Florida House website. It includes an overview of Florida law and the results of the 2020 U.S. Census, on which the current congressional districts are based.
The Florida Legislature approved a congressional district map in 2022. However, Gov. Ron DeSantis felt the map was not fairly drawn, and brought the legislature back in a special session to vote on a map his office approved.
[WATCH: DeSantis signs 4 bills, including redistricting (from 2022)]
However, President Donald Trump is urging states to redraw congressional maps around the country to help Republicans keep the U.S. majority in the 2026 election.
DeSantis supports a mid-decade redistricting effort. Asked about it at an event on Wednesday, DeSantis said he thinks the political demographics of the state have changed significantly since 2020, necessitating a mid-decade redistricting. He has also called for an update to the 2020 Census itself, saying Florida unfairly lost a seat.
Florida has 28 seats in the U.S. House. Twenty are occupied by Republicans, and eight are occupied by Democrats.
Critics of mid-Florida redistricting cite the 2010 Fair Districts amendment as evidence that the kind of redistricting Trump is asking for would be against the state constitution.
That amendment says that Florida’s congressional districts cannot be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent, cannot be drawn with the goal of denying or abridging racial or language minorities’ ability to elect representatives of their choice, and the districts must consist of contiguous territory.
The districts should also be nearly equal in population size and compact, when practicable, and when possible, utilize existing political and geographical boundaries.
[WATCH: State lawmakers go head-to-head over proposed redistricting]
The Florida House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting includes eight Republicans and three Democrats. Three of them are from Central Florida: State Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando, is the committee vice-chair.
The committee also includes State Rep. Nan Cobb, R-Eustis, and State Rep. Johanna Lopez, D-Orlando.
On the Florida Senate side, however, the Standing Committee on Reapportionment has not been assigned to any state senators and is not planning any meetings.
On Wednesday, Sen. President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, sent a memorandum to the chamber, telling them there was currently no ongoing work on redistricting taking place.
“As we move forward, I am continuing to monitor legal developments that could impact Florida and will certainly keep you apprised of any updates to the status I have outlined here,” Albritton said.
Albritton also warns senators that they should try to insulate themselves from partisan-funded groups and others that may “intentionally or unintentionally attempt” to inappropriately influence redistricting.
“Sitting legislators may be compelled to produce records or be subject to questioning under oath about conversations with colleagues, with legislative staff, or with outside parties who may attempt to persuade the Legislature to pass maps that favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent,” Albritton said, referring to the potential for lawsuits should the state pass a new map.
DeSantis, however, says even if lawmakers do nothing on redistricting during the legislative session set to open in January, he will likely call a special session on the issue. He believes a U.S. Supreme Court ruling expected next year on the Voting Rights Act will make it necessary.
The court will decide whether rules that prohibit gerrymandering that dilutes racial minorities is unconstitutional.
“Supreme Court’s VRA [Voting Rights Act] decision is going to impact the current map. No matter what else, that is going to have to be addressed,” DeSantis said Wednesday.
Watch DeSantis’ news conference in the video player below or by clicking here.
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