Missouri House starts work on new district map

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri House members are starting work on a new congressional map that will have only eight districts, down from the current nine.

U.S. House districts are redrawn every 10 years to reflect changes in population based on the census. The U.S. Census Bureau announced last month that Missouri will lose one seat in the House. The state legislature is responsible for drawing the new congressional districts and will approve them just like any other legislation.

A House bill filed Thursday establishes eight congressional districts but does not lay their proposed boundaries. Missouri officials are waiting for more detailed census information, which they say could be available next month.