FAIR MAPS Act

The FAIR MAPS Act requires states to use independent redistricting commissions rather than state legislatures to draw congressional district maps after each census. These commissions must include members from the two major political parties and independents, follow specific criteria including equal population, compliance with the Voting Rights Act, and avoidance of partisan gerrymandering, and must provide extensive public input opportunities. The bill mandates transparency by requiring commissions to hold public hearings, make maps and data publicly available online, and provide written evaluations of maps against fairness metrics. It applies to redistricting following the 2020 census (with deadlines for 2024) and future censuses starting with 2030, and provides for federal courts to develop maps if states fail to establish compliant commissions.