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Bill

HB 20

Fair Maps Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Eric Ager and 38 co-sponsors

Creates an independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw congressional and state districts after each census, removing the legislature and governor from redistricting.

Passed 1st Reading
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 20

HB 20 — Fair Maps Act (summary)

Status: Passed 1st Reading
Introduced: August 15, 2025 (documented legislative text dated 2025)
Classification: Bill (proposes constitutional and statutory changes)

Main purpose / intent

HB 20 (Fair Maps Act) would remove the legislature and governor from the direct process of drawing congressional and state legislative districts and establish an independent redistricting system. The bill amends the North Carolina Constitution and adds implementing statutory language to create a Citizens Redistricting Commission and to set mandatory criteria and processes for preparing and adopting district plans after each decennial census.

Key provisions

  • Constitutional amendments
    • Amends Article II (Sections 3 and 5) and adds a new Section 25 to Article II of the North Carolina Constitution.
    • Requires the General Assembly to "establish by law an independent process" to revise electoral districts for Congress and the General Assembly after each decennial census.
    • Explicitly states that neither the General Assembly nor the Governor shall have any role in revising those districts.
    • Requires districts to be contiguous and to have equal population "as nearly as may be."
    • Provides that electoral districts adopted under the independent process "shall have the force and effect of acts of the General Assembly."
  • Statutory framework
    • Adds a new Article (Article 1B) to Chapter 120 of the General Statutes to define terms and to establish the North Carolina Citizens Redistricting Commission (the text excerpt includes definitions such as "communities of interest," "commission," etc.).
    • Sets priorities and criteria for map drawing (contiguity, equal population, consideration of communities of interest, and other standards reflected in the statutory definitions).
  • Ballot referendum requirement
    • The constitutional amendments created by HB 20 are to be submitted to voters at the statewide general election in November 2026.
    • If a majority of voters approve, the amendments become effective upon certification.

Who is affected

  • Voters and the electorate: will ultimately vote on the constitutional amendments at the specified referendum.
  • State and federal candidates and incumbents: who may face new district boundaries drawn by an independent commission.
  • Political parties and legislative leadership: lose direct control over map-drawing that historically can shape electoral advantage.
  • Local governments and counties: map criteria (e.g., contiguity, communities of interest) affect how counties/municipalities are split or kept intact.
  • State agencies and courts: may face new administrative and legal roles (implementing commission processes, potential litigation).

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • The bill creates a permanent constitutional requirement that an independent process be used following each decennial federal census.
  • HB 20 directs that the constitutional amendments be placed on the ballot in November 2026; they become effective only if approved by a majority of voters and certified.
  • If adopted, the statutory Article added to Chapter 120 will govern how the Citizens Redistricting Commission is constituted and operates (the bill text provides definitions and procedural groundwork; implementing legislation or administrative rules would be needed to operationalize many details).

Potential impact (anticipated)

  • Transfers primary mapmaking authority from elected officials (legislature/governor) to an independent commission, intended to reduce partisan gerrymandering and increase public trust in redistricting.
  • May change political dynamics in some districts, affecting incumbency, competitiveness, and representation.
  • Could prompt litigation over commission composition, adopted criteria, or specific plans (common in major redistricting reforms).
  • Requires development of implementing rules and administrative capacity for the new commission promptly after approval.

If you want, I can:
- Extract and summarize the draft statutory provisions that establish the Commission (membership, selection, deadlines) if available in the bill text you have.
- Prepare a brief comparison to current North Carolina redistricting procedures and likely transitional steps if the amendment passes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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