I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2173 
To require States to conduct Congressional redistricting through independent 
commissions, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2015 
Ms. LOFGREN (for herself, Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Ms. 
BROWNLEY of California, Mrs. CAPPS, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Ms. 
EDWARDS, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. HONDA, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. 
TED LIEU of California, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. NORTON, Ms. PELOSI, 
Mr. PRICE
of North Carolina, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. 
SWALWELL of California, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. VAN HOL-
LEN, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. YARMUTH, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. RANGEL, and Mr. 
WELCH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To require States to conduct Congressional redistricting 
through independent commissions, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Redistricting Reform Act of 2015’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:40 May 12, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2173.IH
H2173
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Finding of Constitutional authority. 
TITLE I—REQUIREMENTS FOR CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING 
Sec. 101. Limit on congressional redistricting after an apportionment. 
Sec. 102. Requiring congressional redistricting to be conducted through plan of 
independent State commission. 
TITLE II—INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS 
Sec. 201. Independent redistricting commission. 
Sec. 202. Establishment of selection pool of individuals eligible to serve as 
members of commission. 
Sec. 203. Criteria for redistricting plan by independent commission; public no-
tice and input. 
Sec. 204. Establishment of related entities. 
TITLE III—ROLE OF COURTS IN DEVELOPMENT OF 
REDISTRICTING PLANS 
Sec. 301. Enactment of plan developed by 3-judge court. 
Sec. 302. Special rule for redistricting conducted under order of Federal court. 
TITLE IV—ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 401. Payments to States for carrying out redistricting. 
Sec. 402. Civil enforcement. 
Sec. 403. State apportionment notice defined. 
Sec. 404. No effect on elections for State and local office. 
Sec. 405. Effective date. 
SEC. 2. FINDING OF CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY. 
Congress finds that it has the authority to establish 
the terms and conditions States must follow in carrying 
out Congressional redistricting after an apportionment of 
Members of the House of Representatives because— 
(1) the authority granted to Congress under ar-
ticle I, section 4 of the Constitution of the United 
States gives Congress the power to enact laws gov-
erning the time, place, and manner of elections for 
Members of the House of Representatives; and 
(2) the authority granted to Congress under 
section 5 of the fourteenth amendment to the Con-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:40 May 12, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2173.IH
H2173
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS