A bill that would replace San Bernardino County’s advisory redistricting commission with an independent body advanced out of the Assembly Elections Committee on June 17, even as county officials warned it could cost more than $2 million to implement.
SB 1414, authored by Sen. Reyes, drew sharply divided testimony. Supporters including Inland Empire United, Common Cause and the League of Women Voters of California said the change would improve transparency and public trust by taking final map-drawing authority away from county supervisors. County and election officials opposed the bill, arguing San Bernardino County already has a public outreach process and that the proposal would override local control.
According to the committee record, the measure was approved as amended and sent to the Local Government Committee. The committee later reported it out on a 6-1 vote after absent members were called.
The bill’s next stop is the Local Government Committee, where the structure of the proposed independent commission and the county’s fiscal objection are likely to remain central issues.
