Education, PSC redistricting bills clear first round

Senators advanced three redistricting bills from general file May 18 that would redraw lines for the Public Service Commission, University of Nebraska Board of Regents and the state Board of Education.

District boundaries must be redrawn every 10 years to reflect population changes throughout the state.

LB700, introduced by the Redistricting Committee, would redraw boundary lines for the five districts of the Public Service Commission.

According to the 2010 census, the ideal population for each district is 365,268. The proposed changes include moving Antelope, Greeley, Howard, Knox and Wheeler counties from District 5 to District 4 and moving Burt, Cuming, Dodge and Thurston counties from District 3 to District 4.

The bill advanced on a 39-0 vote.

LB701 and LB702, also introduced by the committee, would redraw boundary lines for the eight districts of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents and the state Board of Education.

Sen. Chris Langemeier of Schuyler, chairperson of the committee, said maps for the two entities have been drawn identically since 1971 because they contain the same number of districts.

According to the 2010 census, the ideal population for each district is 228,293. The changes proposed to both maps would include moving Knox and Pierce counties from District 6 to District 3 and Custer County from District 6 to District 7. In addition, Butler County would move from District 3 to District 5 and Washington County from District 2 to District 3.

Senators advanced LB701 on a 42-0 vote and LB702 on a 43-0 vote.