New Jersey · Through P.L.2026, c.50, and J.R.1

N.J. Stat. § 19:4A-10: Steps before enacting, implementing new municipal, county apportionment, redistricting plans.

10. a. The governing body of a political subdivision with the authority under this act and all applicable State and local laws to enact and implement a new municipal or county apportionment or redistricting plan shall undertake each of the steps enumerated in this section if, at the time such plan is proposed, the political subdivision is considered a covered entity within the meaning of section 13 of this act, P.L.2026, c.31 (C.19:4A-13).
b.  Before drawing a draft municipal or county redistricting plan or plans of the proposed boundaries of the districts, the political subdivision shall hold public hearings, which may be held virtually, for which it will provide at least seven days’ notice for each and at which the public is invited to provide input regarding the composition of the districts. As determined by the most recent U.S. census enumeration, political subdivisions with 30,000 or more residents shall hold at least four public hearings; political subdivisions with fewer than 30,000 residents and more than 5,000 residents shall hold at least three public hearings; and political subdivisions with 5,000 or fewer residents shall hold at least two public hearings.  Before these public hearings, the political subdivision shall conduct outreach to the public, including to non-English-speaking communities, to explain the redistricting process and to encourage public participation.
c.  After all draft municipal or county redistricting plans are drawn, the political subdivision shall publish on its Internet website and make available for release at least one draft or redistricting plan and, if members of the governing body of the political subdivision would be elected in their districts at different times to provide for staggered terms of office, the potential sequence of such elections. The political subdivision shall additionally publish and make publicly available a written report that shall include, but not be limited to, a detailed summary of how the body came to select such apportionment or redistricting plan, and how the selected plan complies with the provisions of this act and with relevant federal law.
d.  After the release of any draft pursuant to subsection c. of this section, the political subdivision shall also hold at least two additional public hearings, at which the public, including limited English proficient communities, shall be invited to provide input regarding the content of the draft redistricting plan or plans and the proposed sequence of elections if applicable.  The draft municipal or county redistricting plan or plans shall be published at least seven days before consideration at a public hearing.  If the draft redistricting plan or plans are revised at or following a public hearing, the revised versions shall be published and made available to the public, including to limited English proficient communities, for at least seven days. Before adoption, the political subdivision shall hold at least one additional public hearing on the revised draft plan or plans. Notice shall be provided to the public, including translated to limited English proficient communities, at least seven days prior to any additional public hearing. Each public hearing should provide interpretation services for limited English proficient communities, provided that where in-person interpretation services may be unavailable, written testimonies in languages other than English may be submitted for the public record within seven days following the public hearing.  Any further changes to the revised draft plan following the additional public hearing shall not require a second additional public hearing.
e.	If a political subdivision that undertakes the redistricting process set forth in this section is unable to adopt a redistricting plan as a result of deadlines imposed under Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, the political subdivision may seek and obtain appropriate relief, including relief from any applicable deadlines under Title 19, in the Superior Court.
L.2026, c.31, s.10.

Where this section sits in the code

TITLE 19 ELECTIONS

b. Before drawing a draft municipal or county redistricting plan or plans of the proposed boundaries of the districts, the political subdivision shall hold public hearings, which may be held virtually, for which it will provide at least seven days’ notice for each and at which the public is invited to provide input regarding the composition of the districts. As determined by the most recent U.S. census enumeration, political subdivisions with 30,000 or more residents shall hold at least four public hearings; political subdivisions with fewer than 30,000 residents and more than 5,000 residents shall hold at least three public hearings; and political subdivisions with 5,000 or fewer residents shall hold at least two public hearings. Before these public hearings, the political subdivision shall conduct outreach to the public, including to non-English-speaking communities, to explain the redistricting process and to encourage public participation.

c. After all draft municipal or county redistricting plans are drawn, the political subdivision shall publish on its Internet website and make available for release at least one draft or redistricting plan and, if members of the governing body of the political subdivision would be elected in their districts at different times to provide for staggered terms of office, the potential sequence of such elections. The political subdivision shall additionally publish and make publicly available a written report that shall include, but not be limited to, a detailed summary of how the body came to select such apportionment or redistricting plan, and how the selected plan complies with the provisions of this act and with relevant federal law.

d. After the release of any draft pursuant to subsection c. of this section, the political subdivision shall also hold at least two additional public hearings, at which the public, including limited English proficient communities, shall be invited to provide input regarding the content of the draft redistricting plan or plans and the proposed sequence of elections if applicable. The draft municipal or county redistricting plan or plans shall be published at least seven days before consideration at a public hearing. If the draft redistricting plan or plans are revised at or following a public hearing, the revised versions shall be published and made available to the public, including to limited English proficient communities, for at least seven days. Before adoption, the political subdivision shall hold at least one additional public hearing on the revised draft plan or plans. Notice shall be provided to the public, including translated to limited English proficient communities, at least seven days prior to any additional public hearing. Each public hearing should provide interpretation services for limited English proficient communities, provided that where in-person interpretation services may be unavailable, written testimonies in languages other than English may be submitted for the public record within seven days following the public hearing. Any further changes to the revised draft plan following the additional public hearing shall not require a second additional public hearing.

e. If a political subdivision that undertakes the redistricting process set forth in this section is unable to adopt a redistricting plan as a result of deadlines imposed under Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, the political subdivision may seek and obtain appropriate relief, including relief from any applicable deadlines under Title 19, in the Superior Court.

L.2026, c.31, s.10.

Collected 2026-10-18T02:17:40Z. Source file · JSON

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