ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS ARE HOLDING HEARINGS AROUND THE STATE IN ANTICIPATION OF NEXT WEEK'S SPECIAL SESSION ON REDISTRICTING. 

NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, BUT MAY NEED TO BE TWEAKED BASED ON RECENTLY RELEASED CENSUS DATA. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO OFFER THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW DISTRICTS SHOULD BE DRAWN. SPRINGFIELD REPRESENTATIVE TIM BUTLER REMAINS CRITICAL OF THE PROCESS, SAYING THE NEW MAPS ARE DRAWN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH NO TRANSPARENCY.

JULIE CONTRERAS, PRESIDENT OF THE GROUP UNITED GIVING HOPE IS ASKING FOR EVERYONE TO SLOW DOWN.

SOME WHO HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN AT THE HEARINGS, INCLUDING THOSE REPRESENTING MINORITY COMMUNITIES, ARE URGING LAWMAKERS TO SLOW DOWN AND WAIT FOR FURTHER CENSUS DETAILS TO COME OUT BEFORE SETTING NEW POLITICAL BOUNDARIES. 

THE SPECIAL SESSION WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY.