HB 1396 - DIGEST

Addresses the Washington state redistricting act.

Provides a definition for "efficiency gap" and for "wasted votes" for purposes of the redistricting act.

Requires the redistricting commission plan to accomplish the following:

(1) Districts must not purposefully favor or discriminate against a political party;

(2) A legislative or congressional plan is presumed to purposefully favor or discriminate against a political party when the efficiency gap is greater than seven percent; and

(3) Require the commission, for plans that are presumed to purposefully favor or discriminate against a political party, to include its reasoning in its published report for why the plan does not purposefully favor or discriminate against a political party.

Permits a commission member to actively participate, while a member of the commission, in or contribute to a political campaign of a candidate for state or federal elective office if certain conditions are met.