Bill > HR5426

This bill, named the John Tanner and Jim Cooper Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act, aims to reform the Congressional redistricting process by establishing national standards for how states redraw their congressional district boundaries after each decennial census. The bill requires states to create independent redistricting commissions composed of an equal number of members from different political parties, with strict eligibility requirements to ensure commissioners are not current or recent politicians. These commissions must develop redistricting plans using specific criteria, such as maintaining geographic continuity, creating compact districts, adhering to the "one person, one vote" standard, and avoiding considerations of political party affiliation or incumbent residency. If a commission's plan is not enacted by the state legislature, the highest state court or a federal district court can select or develop a redistricting plan. The bill also limits states to performing Congressional redistricting only once between each decennial census, with exceptions for court-mandated redistricting to comply with the Constitution or Voting Rights Act. To support this process, the bill authorizes payments of $150,000 per Representative to states to help establish and operate their independent redistricting commissions. These provisions will apply to Congressional redistricting after the 2030 census, with the goal of creating a more fair and impartial method of drawing congressional district boundaries.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5426/all-info