A bill filed this session would establish an independent commission to draw the state's district lines.
The goal would be to avoid the contentious and litigious debate that typically accompanies the required changes to the state's legislative districts, said Sen. Pete Brunstetter, a Lewisville Republican and senate sponsor of the bill. House and Senate Republicans said they believe the bill and others similar to it would curb gerrymandering.
"The big problem is it allows legislators to chose their voters and not vice versa," Brunstetter said.
The state constitution currently calls for the legislature to change districts after the federal decennial census. The idea is to have legislative districts reflect changes in population.
More after the jump.
Which state bills have the most support?
Recent surveys by the Elon University Poll, the conservative Civitas Institute and the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling have shown broad agreement on a number of issues.
Below, the percentage in support and the corresponding bill:
H.B. 361: Defense of Marriage (76 percent, Civitas)
S.B. 155: Community College Can't Admit Illegal Aliens (74 percent, PPP)
H.B. 88: Healthy Youth Act (69 percent, PPP)
H.B. 2: Prohibit Smoking in Public & Work Places. (67 percent, Elon; 64 percent PPP)
S.B. 12: Ban Mobile Phone Use While Driving (66 percent, Elon)
H.B. 35: Independent Redistricting Commission (55 percent, Civitas)
Correction: A previous version of this post included S.B. 161, which would overturn the moratorium on the death penalty. Polling data is conflicted on this issue, so it has been removed from the list.
A few more House bills filed since yesterday afternoon:
H.B. 28: LRC study GHG Credits for Farming, Rep. Bill Faison
H.B. 29: Allow UM/UIM Stacking, Reps. Faison, Darren Jackson
H.B. 30: Jacksonville Occupancy Tax, Rep. Robert Grady
H.B. 31: Regulation of Golf Carts in Holly Ridge, Rep. Grady
H.B. 32: Clinton/Overgrown Vegetation Ordinance, Rep. Larry Bell
H.B. 33: Visual Record/Homicide Interrogation, Reps. Kelly Alexander, Beverly Earle, Annie Mobley
H.B. 34: NAACP's 100th Anniversary, Reps. Garland Pierce, William Wainwright, Larry Womble, Larry Hall
H.B. 35: Independent Redistricting Commission, Rep. Nelson Dollar
H.B. 36: Special Plate for Mining, Travel, and Tourism, Rep. Mitch Gillespie