# 119-hr-5426: John Tanner and Jim Cooper Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act

119-hr-5426, John Tanner and Jim Cooper Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5426
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5426
- Congress: 119
- Title: John Tanner and Jim Cooper Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-17
- Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## 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. - 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.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Court backstops and faster timelines: benefit, high. 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…
- Federal funding for state commissions: benefit, high. 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 commis…
- Independent commissions draw the maps: benefit, high. 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 C…
- One map per decade rule: benefit, high. 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: benefit, high. 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 n…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-4714: End Polluter Welfare Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-5426 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5426)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-4714: End Polluter Welfare Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4714)
- [119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3971)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5426 (as of 2026-04-21).