John Tanner and Jim Cooper Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act
Sponsored By: Representative Cohen
Introduced
Summary
Independent State redistricting commissions would be the default method for drawing U.S. House districts after each decennial census, with limits on how often States can redraw, public mapping tools, clear deadlines, and court-based fallbacks. The bill aims to make redistricting more transparent, less partisan, and enforceable across all States while preserving State control of state and local districting processes.
Show full summary
- Voters and the public would get stronger tools and outreach. The commission must run open meetings, hold regional hearings, publish census and voting-age data, and offer interactive online mapping and plan submission.
- State legislatures and officials would face new constraints. States would be barred from redrawing more than once per apportionment except when courts order changes, and a commission plan or a plan selected by the State’s highest court or a federal district court would govern Congressional maps.
- Courts and election administrators would get a clear fallback and timeline. If a commission or State fails to produce a plan, State or federal courts would select plans under the same rules as commissions.
- States would receive implementation funds. The Election Assistance Commission would pay up to $150,000 per Representative to establish and operate commissions and implement plans, with no payment for States with only one Member.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Court backstops and faster timelines
If the highest State court does not pick a plan by December 1 after the apportionment notice, the State would notify a U.S. district court. The district court would have 30 days to publish a final map. If a commission is not set up by September 1, the district court would publish a map by December 1. When a federal court orders redistricting to fix legal problems, timelines would speed up: 30 days to set up the commission, 150 days to submit plans, 180 days for the State’s highest court, and 210 days for the district court. Congress states courts should follow the same rules commissions used when making fallback maps.
Federal funding for state commissions
The Election Assistance Commission would pay each eligible State $150,000 per U.S. House seat within 30 days of the apportionment notice. A State must have more than one seat and must certify it set up the commission and named a chair before payment. Funds would be used to set up and run the commission and carry out redistricting. The bill would authorize whatever funds are needed for these payments.
Independent commissions draw the maps
Each State would have to set up an independent redistricting commission by the day the governor gets the apportionment notice. Members would be registered voters with no recent political jobs, chosen in equal numbers from party-based categories, and led by a chair; they must pledge not to run for Congress until after the next apportionment. Plans would use equal population, follow the Voting Rights Act, keep counties and neighborhoods together when possible, be compact and contiguous, and avoid using voting history or party unless required by law. All meetings would be public, and a website would share data, let people draw and submit maps, collect comments, and post plan details at least 7 days before submission. The legislature could only approve or reject without changes; if not enacted by November 1, the highest State court could pick one submitted plan, and the commission would end the day after the first regular federal election after the notice, with records kept by the State.
One map per decade rule
States would be barred from redrawing U.S. House maps again until the next apportionment. The only exception would be a court-ordered redraw to meet the Constitution or the Voting Rights Act.
Rules start after 2030 Census
If enacted, these rules would apply to congressional redistricting done after the 2030 Census. The Clerk’s apportionment notice to each State would trigger all deadlines and payments. States would have to follow this Act’s process for U.S. House maps, not separate State-only rules. The bill would not change how States draw State or local districts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cohen
TN • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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