Education, PSC redistricting bills approved

Senators gave final approval to three redistricting bills May 25 that draw new district boundaries 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, redraws 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. 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.

LB701 and LB702, also introduced by the committee, redraw boundary lines for the eight districts of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents and the state Board of Education. Maps for the two entities are identical.

According to the 2010 census, the ideal population for each district is 228,293. Changes to both maps 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 moves from District 3 to District 5 and Washington County from District 2 to District 3.

The three bills were approved on 47-0 votes.