SB 385

Under current law, local redistricting in Wisconsin occurs in three phases

following each federal decennial census. The process starts at the county level in

which counties must adopt tentative county supervisory district plans within 60

days after the official publication of the census data for Wisconsin, but no later than

July 1 following the year of the census—July 1, 2021, in the current redistricting

cycle. After counties adopt tentative county supervisory district plans,

municipalities then have 60 days in which to adjust ward boundaries as needed

based on the census. Once municipalities adopt new ward plans, counties then have

60 days within which to adopt final county supervisory district plans, and cities have

60 days within which to adopt aldermanic districts where applicable.

Under federal law, the U.S. Census Bureau must deliver census data to the

states for redistricting purposes no later than March 31 of the year following the

census—March 31, 2021, in the current redistricting cycle. However, due to delays

in the census process resulting from the COVID-19 global pandemic, it is anticipated

that Wisconsin will not receive census data based on the 2020 federal decennial

census until as late as the end of September 2021.

This bill does all of the following with respect to the local redistricting timeline

following the 2020 federal decennial census:

1. Provides that counties have until February 22, 2022, to adopt tentative

county supervisory district plans based on the 2020 federal decennial census.

2. Provides that municipalities may not adopt new ward plans sooner than

April 15, 2022, nor later than May 15, 2022. Under the bill, in adopting new ward

plans, municipalities must take into account any previously enacted congressional

or legislative redistricting plan based on the 2020 federal decennial census.

3. Provides, consistent with current law, that each final county supervisory

district plan adopted on the basis of the 2020 federal decennial census must be

adopted within 60 days after every municipality in the county adjusts its wards, as

specified above.

4. As a result in delays to the local redistricting timeline due to the delay in the

state's receipt of census data for redistricting purposes, specifies that city aldermanic

district plans adopted on the basis of the 2020 federal decennial census first apply

to the 2023 spring primary and election and that final county supervisory district

plans adopted on the basis of the 2020 federal decennial census first apply to the 2024

spring primary and election or the 2023 spring primary and election in those counties

that have provided by ordinance for staggered terms of office for county board

supervisors.