HB158, titled the “Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Elections Act” or the “CLEAN Elections Act,” would require states to use independent nonpartisan redistricting commissions for congressional redistricting. Beginning with the redistricting cycle tied to the 2020 census, each state would have to draw congressional districts under a plan developed by such a commission. The bill also reaches state legislative redistricting indirectly by conditioning the use of certain federal election-administration funds on a state’s certification that its state legislative districts are also drawn using a nonpartisan independent commission.
The bill defines a qualifying commission as one with equal numbers of members affiliated with the two largest political parties in the state, and with no elected public officials serving as members. It applies to all states and is framed as a structural election-reform measure intended to reduce partisan influence over district boundaries.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would significantly alter how congressional districts are drawn in every state by replacing legislatively controlled redistricting with independent commissions. It would also create a federal funding incentive for states to adopt commission-based redistricting for state legislative maps, tying eligibility for certain federal election-administration funds to compliance. The measure would affect state election laws, redistricting procedures, and the authority of state legislatures over district drawing, while also implicating the Election Assistance Commission in certification of compliance.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript and no recorded votes, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge broad support or opposition. Based on the bill’s title and structure, it appears to be presented as a good-government and anti-corruption reform aimed at reducing gerrymandering and partisan map-drawing. The absence of recorded votes or discussion means sentiment cannot be measured from the provided history beyond the bill’s reform-oriented framing.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the transfer of redistricting power away from elected state lawmakers to independent commissions, which supporters would view as a safeguard against partisan gerrymandering and opponents may view as reducing democratic accountability or state control. Another potential issue is the federal conditioning of election-administration funds on state legislative redistricting practices, which could be criticized as coercive or as federal overreach into state election administration. The bill’s requirement of equal party representation and exclusion of elected officials may also raise questions about commission design and implementation.