This bill would fundamentally change how states redraw congressional districts after each census. Instead of letting state legislatures or politicians control the process, it requires every state to use an independent redistricting commission—a group of regular citizens without ties to politics—to draw the maps. The goal is to prevent politicians from rigging district lines to favor their own party, a practice known as gerrymandering.

The bill sets up specific rules for how these commissions must work. Members would be selected through a public application process and must include people from different political parties as well as independents. The commission members can't be current or former politicians, candidates, or campaign workers. Before finalizing maps, the commission must hold public hearings and get input from residents. Most importantly, the final map must be approved by members from each major party plus independents, ensuring broad agreement rather than one-sided decisions.

The bill also establishes clear criteria for drawing districts. Maps must follow the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act, protect minority voting rights, and respect communities of interest—meaning neighborhoods and communities with shared characteristics should stay together when possible. Critically, maps cannot be drawn to intentionally favor one political party over another. If a state fails to create an acceptable map, a federal court would step in and draw one instead. The bill also prevents states from constantly redrawing maps between censuses, requiring them to stick with one map for ten years unless a court orders changes for constitutional or legal reasons.