The latest plan was distributed to members 40 minutes after the meeting was supposed to start because staffers were still drawing it.
The 19-21 vote against the Democratic proposal ran mostly along party lines, with the exception of Rep. Alma Adams, D-Guilford, Rep. Toby Fitch, D-Wilson, and Rep. Mickey Michaux, D-Durham, who joined Republicans to stop debate on the plan.
All three are members of the Group of Eight, made up of dissident Democrats who earlier prevented Democrats from passing the state budget and N.C. House redistricting plans.
During the meeting, Committee Chairman Thomas Wright, D-New Hanover, said he wanted members to discuss the bill and possibly vote on it.
But most of the members said Wright was acting too fast by not allowing time for public comment and for members to propose amendments.
"I just saw this plan a few minutes ago," said Rep. Billy Creech, R-Johnston. "I don't see what's wrong with holding this thing over to give us a chance to look at it."
Wright said he presented a similar plan to the committee Co-chairman William McMahan, R-Mecklenburg, before the meeting to allow for comments.
But McMahan said the latest proposal differed substantially. "This map is not the map I expected to receive."
Wright added that the changes were not substantial, and he and McMahan discussed the proposals before the meeting. "We're legislators," he said. "We talk about concepts even if we don't have anything tangible."