YourVoice.Now Summary
Civil LibertiesTransparency & AccountabilityTargeted & Unrelated ProvisionsCitizen commissions would draw U.S. House maps from 2030, and any voter could sue over a map drawn for party gain.
Civil Liberties
Every state with more than one House seat would set up the commission. Five members come from each of the two biggest parties, and five come from neither. A state office picks the first six at random; those six pick the rest. This starts with the 2030 census.
A state that has drawn its map may not draw another one before the next census. A court can still order a redraw to fix a legal problem. This part covers maps drawn after the 2020 census, not just future ones.
The bill ranks the map rules in order. A map must not weaken a protected group's ability to elect its candidate, even where that group is under half the district. Two groups that vote alike can be counted together.
A challenger can ask a judge to check a new map within 30 days. Filing that motion freezes the map. The judge looks at the last two presidential and two Senate races in the state. An edge above 7 percent, or one seat, in two of them makes the map presumed illegal until the state proves otherwise.
Any citizen of the state may file suit, and so may the U.S. Attorney General. Courts must move these cases to the front of the line. The winning side may recover its lawyer fees.
Only federal courts could hear claims that a map breaks this law. Any party could pull such a case out of state court. Claims about party tilt would have to be filed in Washington, D.C.
Transparency & Accountability
The commission must hold open meetings, stream them live, and post the recording within 24 hours. The website cannot be run by any elected official's office. Records, comments, and contractor lists go online in a searchable form.
Anyone may send in maps at any point in the process. After the commission publishes a draft map, it must take comments for at least 30 days and hold three more hearings.
People applying to work for the commission, and companies bidding for its contracts, must report 10 years of political spending. They file again each year. Lobbyists and large donors are barred unless every member votes to let them in.
Lawmakers can normally shield their records and talks by claiming legislative privilege. This bill says no person, legislature, or state may claim it in a map case.
The state must send its final map to the Justice Department before the map takes effect. The review checks the map against the bill's rules. It ends early if someone files a court case in the first 45 days.
Targeted & Unrelated Provisions
The bill names Iowa by itself. Iowa may keep using its legislative agency and advisory panel, so long as that state law stays in place. Other states are excused only if their commission already meets seven listed tests.
More about this bill
Your U.S. House district would be drawn by a citizen panel, not by state lawmakers. Each state with more than one House seat would build a 15-member commission. Five members come from the largest party, five from the next largest, and five from neither. A nonpartisan state office picks the first six at random, at a public meeting. Those six then pick the other nine. States that already use a qualifying citizen commission would be left alone, and so would Iowa. Most of the law starts with the 2030 census. Maps would have to meet a fixed list of rules, in order. Equal population comes first, then the Voting Rights Act. Third, a map must protect a minority group's real chance to elect its candidate. That holds even where the group is not most of the district. Fourth come neighborhoods and areas tied by shared jobs, culture, or history. Shared party loyalty would not count. Where a sitting member lives could not be a factor. Maps drawn to favor a party would be barred, by intent or by result. Judges would test a map against the last eight years of statewide federal races. A tilt above 7 percent, or one seat, would make a map presumed illegal until the state proves otherwise. The state could not use that map while the case runs. Any citizen could sue, and the Attorney General could too. A state could not redraw again until the next census, unless a court orders it. If a state misses its deadline, three federal judges would draw the map. Every commission meeting would be public and streamed, on a site no elected official runs. Records, contracts, and applications would be posted and searchable. You could send in your own maps and comments. At least six public hearings would be held around the state. The Justice Department would review each final map before it takes effect. States would get $150,000 for each House seat to run the process. State and local district lines would not change.
Congressional Summary
Redistricting Reform Act of 2025 This bill sets forth requirements for congressional redistricting and generally prohibits mid-decade redistricting. Specifically, the bill requires that congressional redistricting be conducted in accordance with a plan developed by (1) a state-established independent commission; or (2) if such a commission does not enact a plan, a three-judge panel from a U.S. District Court. This requirement does not apply to a state that has a plan developed and approved by an independent redistricting commission that complies with specified requirements. The bill outlines the criteria for a redistricting plan, including that congressional districts must be drawn to (1) ensure the practical ability of a protected group to participate in the political process, nominate candidates, and elect representatives of choice; and (2) represent communities of interest and neighborhoods. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of a redistricting plan that was drawn with the intent (or has the effect of) materially favoring or disfavoring any political party. Further, the bill establishes the requirements for appointing members to a state-established independent redistricting commission, including diversity requirements. The Government Accountability Office must report on the extent to which these commissions meet the diversity requirements. The bill includes a provision to prevent states from redistricting more than once following an apportionment (i.e., mid-decade redistricting). The bill also directs the Election Assistance Commission to make payments to states to carry out congressional redistricting.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-09-18
- Date Added
- 2026-07-24
- Source
- Congress.gov →
Like reading a bill in plain English?
We're building an app that does this for every bill in Congress and lets you tell your reps how you want them to vote. We're a small team getting ready to launch, and we're trying to show investors that real people want this. Be one of them. Help us get it built. Leave your email and we'll tell you the moment the app is ready.