Redistricting Reform Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Lofgren
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a nationwide framework that requires independent redistricting commissions to draw congressional maps and imposes strict anti‑partisan and transparency rules. It also sets a federal fallback so courts step in if a State fails to follow the new process and funds commission setup and operation.
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- Voters and communities of color: Plans would be judged first for equal population and Voting Rights Act compliance, with required evaluations of how maps affect minority voters and a rebuttable presumption of partisan bias if a plan shows an advantage in two of four evaluated elections.
- Independent commissions and applicants: States would use a 15‑member commission chosen from a 36‑person selection pool, with detailed eligibility vetting and a 10‑year lookback for disqualifying political ties.
- Courts and litigants: If States miss deadlines, a three‑judge federal court would develop maps using the same public‑process rules and may publish interim plans with public comment.
- State election offices: The Election Assistance Commission would pay States an amount equal to each State's number of Representatives times $150,000 to set up and run commissions, subject to appropriations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Ban partisan maps with clear tests
If enacted, States would have to use single‑member districts and follow strict priorities: equal population, the Voting Rights Act, then real ability for protected groups to elect candidates. The bill would ban plans that favor or hurt a party statewide, using modeling of the last 8 years of federal elections and comparisons to lawful alternatives. A plan would be presumed illegal if it gives a party more than 7% or one seat in at least 2 of 4 listed elections. A party could file within 30 days to trigger review; filing would pause the plan and the court would hold a hearing within 15 days.
Court backstop and firm map deadlines
If enacted, each State would have to pass a final congressional map by the earliest of three dates: its state deadline, Feb. 15 of the federal election year, or 90 days before the next federal primary. If a State misses or is likely to miss, any citizen could sue and a three‑judge court would draw the map. The court would post draft plans and data for free, allow 14 days for public comments, then publish a final plan. Any party could move certain state cases to federal court, and the federal court would send back claims it lacks jurisdiction over. These steps would apply after the 2030 census and later cycles.
Federal rules and map enforcement
If enacted, federal law would direct States to follow this Act’s rules when redistricting after apportionment. The Attorney General and any harmed State citizen could sue in federal court, and winning private parties could get fees and costs. Complaints would be sent to the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate. No one could claim legislative privilege in these cases, and courts could not order maps or elections that break this Act. These enforcement rights would apply to redistricting after the 2030 census and later.
Independent commissions to draw maps
If enacted, each State would use a nonpartisan agency to form an Independent Redistricting Commission. By June 15 of years ending in "0", the agency would send a 36‑person pool (12 majority, 12 minority, 12 independent) for approval. States would appoint a four‑member Select Committee by Jan. 15 of years ending in "0" to approve or reject the pool. The agency would make initial and final picks by Oct. 1 and Nov. 15, and each plan must include a written evaluation on communities of color, partisan fairness, and communities of interest. A final plan would take effect after a 45‑day wait once a majority and one member from each category approve it, and DOJ would review unless a lawsuit is filed.
No mid-decade redrawing of maps
If enacted, States could not redraw congressional maps mid‑decade. A court could still order new maps to follow the Constitution or voting laws. This would apply to maps drawn after the 2020 census and later and would be enforced like other parts of the Act.
Federal grants for map-drawing costs
If enacted, the Election Assistance Commission would pay each State its number of Representatives × $150,000 within 30 days of apportionment. No payment would go to States with one or fewer Representatives. Payments would depend on Congress funding them and on the State certifying it met the selection‑pool or qualifying‑commission rules (with exceptions for qualifying States and Iowa). This would apply to redistricting after the 2030 census and later.
Qualifying state commissions can continue
If enacted, a State that already uses an independent commission could keep it if it meets seven rules and keeps them in place. The rules cover public applications, disqualifications, conflict checks, multi‑party makeup, use of this Act’s map criteria, public input, and a broad approval vote that includes three groups. Iowa could keep its current system if it stays under the same law. GAO would report by May 15 of years ending in "1" on whether commissions met the diversity and composition rules.
New hiring and vendor disclosure rules
If enacted, commissions would approve hires and contracts by a majority that includes at least one member from each selection pool. Applicants and vendors would have to report 10 years of political spending and related income, then file annual reports. The commission could not hire or contract with disqualified people unless it unanimously waives the rule after reviewing the report.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lofgren
CA • D
Cosponsors
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Aguilar
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Bell
MO • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Bera
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Correa
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
DeSaulnier
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Doggett
TX • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Garcia (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Huffman
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Liccardo
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Matsui
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Min
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Pelosi
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Rivas
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Sanchez
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Sherman
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Takano
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Torres (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Tran
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Whitesides
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Waters
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Jacobs
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Gray
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Green, Al (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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