HR 55 — A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the feasibility of computational redistricting in Pennsylvania.

PRINTER'S NO.   500

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 55
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, HILL-EVANS, PIELLI, PROBST AND SANCHEZ,
        FEBRUARY 5, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 5, 2025


                                 A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
 2      study on the feasibility of computational redistricting in
 3      Pennsylvania.
 4      WHEREAS, Pennsylvania law requires that a five-member
 5   commission be responsible for redrawing State legislative
 6   district boundaries after each decennial census; and
 7      WHEREAS, Congressional reapportionment plans are subject to
 8   the strictest Federal requirements and must be approved through
 9   the standard legislative process; and
10      WHEREAS, State legislative districts must be composed of
11   compact and contiguous territory with no division of counties,
12   cities, incorporated towns, boroughs, townships or wards unless
13   absolutely necessary; and
14      WHEREAS, The General Assembly does not vote on State
15   legislative districts nor does the Governor have the power to
16   veto them; and
17      WHEREAS, Local-level districts are determined by each
18   municipality's governing body following each decennial census;
 1   and
 2         WHEREAS, The redistricting process is often politicized and
 3   leads to gerrymandered districts; and
 4         WHEREAS, Gerrymandering creates districts with complex shapes
 5   that seek to dilute the vote of one party in favor of another;
 6   and
 7         WHEREAS, Both major political parties have practiced
 8   gerrymandering nationwide; and
 9         WHEREAS, Laws exist at the Federal and State levels to
10   safeguard the rights of residents during redistricting; and
11         WHEREAS, In practice, redistricting laws do little to reduce
12   the occurrence of gerrymandering; and
13         WHEREAS, One possible solution to partisan gerrymandering is
14   the use of computer algorithms, known as computational
15   redistricting, to draw legislative districts; and
16         WHEREAS, A transition to the use of computational
17   redistricting would minimize human involvement in the
18   redistricting process; therefore be it
19         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
20   State Government Commission to conduct a study on the
21   feasibility of computational redistricting in Pennsylvania; and
22   be it further
23         RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study
24   include, at a minimum, the following:
25             (1)   Cost-benefit analysis on the implementation of
26         computational redistricting.
27             (2)   Analysis of the implementation and use of
28         computational redistricting in other states, if applicable.
29             (3)   Analysis of the implementation and use of
30         computational redistricting in other countries, if

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 1      applicable.
 2          (4)   Input from stakeholders and interest groups
 3      detailing the possible positive and negative outcomes of
 4      using computational redistricting.
 5          (5)   Public comment on the potential implementation of
 6      computational redistricting.
 7          (6)   Recommendations for legislative action to implement
 8      computational redistricting;
 9   and be it further
10      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission be
11   authorized to request information from the United States Census
12   Bureau for the study on behalf of the House of Representatives;
13   and be it further
14      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission be
15   authorized to request information from the Department of State
16   and the Secretary of the Commonwealth for the study on behalf of
17   the House of Representatives; and be it further
18      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission be
19   authorized to request information from government entities
20   outside of the Commonwealth for the study on behalf of the House
21   of Representatives; and be it further
22      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report
23   its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives
24   no later than one year after the adoption of this resolution.




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