Fair Maps Act (H9) Summary

• Proposes constitutional amendment to establish an independent redistricting process for North Carolina Senate, House, and U.S. Congressional districts, removing the General Assembly and Governor from redistricting decisions.

• Creates the 15-member North Carolina Citizens Redistricting Commission appointed by legislative leaders and randomly selected members, with strict eligibility requirements excluding politicians, party officials, lobbyists, and those with political contributions over $2,000.

• Commission chair rotates every three months and membership requires diverse representation by race, ethnicity, geography, and political affiliation, with plans requiring supermajority approval (at least 9 of 15 members or unanimous support from underrepresented groups).

• Establishes redistricting criteria prioritizing equal population representation, constitutional compliance, contiguous districts, and minimizing split communities of interest, while prohibiting consideration of electoral results, incumbent advantage, or partisan gerrymandering.

• Requires minimum 25 public hearings, public access to demographic data and mapping software at 30 libraries, written responses to all substantive comments, and adoption of final plans by October 1 of the year following each decennial census.