On February 5, 2003, the Commission adopted the final redistricting plan (with some minor amendments). Commissioners Sheila Rice and Joe Lamson submitted the plan to the Secretary of State as provided in the Montana Constitution. Bob Brown, Secretary of State, refused to accept the plan based on HB 309, which had been signed into law by Governor Martz on February 4, 2003. House Bill No. 309 required a plus or minus 1% deviation and the plan had been drawn using a criterion of plus or minus 5% deviation.

Secretary of State, Bob Brown, filed a complaint for declaratory judgment on February 5, 2003 requesting “the court to determine the constitutionality and statutory validity of the Statewide Redistricting Plan adopted by the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission.” A hearing for partial summary judgment on the complaint was held May 15, 2003, at the First Judicial District Court in Helena. Supplemental briefs were requested by May 29, 2003.

Commission – Adopted House and Senate Districts

These districts have been renumbered and amended since December 6, 2003.

Regional Maps of Senate Districts:

Tentatively-adopted Regional House District Plans: Maps and Overviews

  • House and Senate Districts as adopted by the Commission on December 6, 2002, after the public hearings on senate pairings and the entire plan. The plan was then presented to the Legislature on January 6, 2003 and reconsidered on February 5, 2003 after Legislative recommendations were considered. The February 5, 2003 final-adopted districts were renumbered and amended since the adoption of the December 6, 2002, districts.

Regional Maps of Districts and Amendments Adopted

Northcentral Region, March 27, 2002: Plan 300, as amended

Northeast Region, March 27, 2002: Plan 300, as amended

Southeast/Central and Southeast Region, May 1, 2002: Plan 300, as amended
(see amendments below)

Southwest Region, June 17, 2002: Plan 300, as amended
(see amendments below)

Western Region, September 16, 2002: Plan 300, as amended
(see amendments below)

Amendments

Background Maps and Population Tables based on the 2000 Census