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End Prison Gerrymandering Act

3/8/2024, 8:15 AM

Summary of Bill HR 2905

Bill 118 hr 2905, also known as the End Prison Gerrymandering Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to address the issue of prison gerrymandering, which occurs when incarcerated individuals are counted as residents of the district where the prison is located for the purposes of redistricting.

The bill aims to end this practice by requiring that incarcerated individuals be counted as residents of their last known address for the purposes of redistricting. This would ensure that political representation is more accurately distributed based on where individuals actually reside, rather than where they are temporarily incarcerated.

Supporters of the bill argue that prison gerrymandering distorts political representation by giving more power to districts with prisons, which often house individuals from other parts of the state or country. By counting incarcerated individuals at their last known address, the bill seeks to ensure that all communities are fairly represented in the redistricting process. Opponents of the bill may argue that counting incarcerated individuals at their last known address could be logistically challenging and may not accurately reflect where individuals consider their home. However, proponents of the bill believe that this change is necessary to ensure fair and accurate representation for all communities. Overall, the End Prison Gerrymandering Act is a proposed piece of legislation that seeks to address the issue of prison gerrymandering and ensure that political representation is more accurately distributed based on where individuals actually reside.

Congressional Summary of HR 2905

End Prison Gerrymandering Act

This bill requires the Bureau of the Census, beginning with the 2030 decennial census, to attribute an individual incarcerated in a correctional facility or detention center to the individual's last place of residence before incarceration. Further, a state must treat such an individual's last place of residence in the state before incarceration as the individual's place of residence for purposes of congressional redistricting.

Current Status of Bill HR 2905

Bill HR 2905 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since April 26, 2023. Bill HR 2905 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the House on April 26, 2023.  Bill HR 2905's most recent activity was Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. as of April 26, 2023

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 2905

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
1
Republican Sponsors
0
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
18
Democrat Cosponsors
18
Republican Cosponsors
0
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 2905

Primary Policy Focus

Government Operations and Politics

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 2905

End Prison Gerrymandering Act
End Prison Gerrymandering Act
To amend title 13, United States Code, to provide that individuals in prison shall, for the purposes of a decennial census, be attributed to the last usual place of residence before incarceration, and for other purposes.

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