I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7948 
To require any entity established to develop congressional redistricting plans 
for a State to hold public hearings at which individuals who are members 
of communities of interest have a meaningful opportunity to express 
their views on proposed redistricting plans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 3, 2022 
Mr. TORRES of New York (for himself and Mr. JEFFRIES) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To require any entity established to develop congressional 
redistricting plans for a State to hold public hearings 
at which individuals who are members of communities 
of interest have a meaningful opportunity to express 
their views on proposed redistricting plans, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. REQUIRING ENTITIES ESTABLISHED TO DE-
VELOP 
CONGRESSIONAL 
REDISTRICTING 
PLANS TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Any entity other than the legis-
lature of a State, including an independent redistricting 
commission, a special master appointed by a Federal or 
State court, or a Federal or State court, which develops 
a congressional redistricting plan for a State shall— 
(1) hold multiple public hearings prior to the 
development of a final plan; 
(2) ensure that individuals may attend such 
hearings virtually; 
(3) hold such hearings in locations which are 
within a reasonable distance of the locations of com-
munities of interest; and 
(4) ensure that members of communities of in-
terest have meaningful opportunities to express their 
views on any of the entity’s plans. 
(b) TREATMENT
OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
AS 
COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.—For purposes of this Act, 
the term ‘‘communities of interest’’ may, in certain cir-
cumstances, include political subdivisions such as counties, 
municipalities, tribal lands and reservations, or school dis-
tricts, but shall not include common relationships with po-
litical parties or political candidates. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT.— 
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(1) ACTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The At-
torney General may bring a civil action in an appro-
priate district court for such declaratory or injunc-
tive relief as is necessary to carry out this Act. 
(2) PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.—A person who 
is aggrieved by a violation of this Act may bring a 
civil action in an appropriate district court for such 
declaratory or injunctive relief as may be appro-
priate with respect to the violation. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This Act shall apply with re-
spect to redistricting carried out pursuant to the decennial 
census conducted during 2030 or any succeeding decennial 
census. 
Æ 
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