New York Assembly Bill A09014

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 8/20/25
• Refer: 8/20/25

Caption

Relates to the redistricting of congressional and state legislative districts and to redistricting in the event that another state has acted to determine the district lines for congressional offices more than once in less than ten years.

Impact

If passed, A09014 will amend Article 3 of the New York Constitution, allowing the state legislature greater flexibility in determining congressional district lines. This could significantly influence representation in the U.S. Congress and state legislature, particularly in response to actions taken by bordering states. The bill aims to prevent strategic abuses of the redistricting process and ensure that New York maintains fair and effective representation, although the specific guidelines for how these lines are redrawn will still need to adhere to previously outlined principles.

Summary

Bill A09014 proposes amendments to the New York State Constitution concerning the redistricting process for congressional and state legislative districts. The bill aims to establish a mechanism for redistricting in situations where another state has redrawn its district lines more than once within ten years, unless mandated to do so by a court. This modification to the existing legislative framework emphasizes the authority of New York's legislature to initiate redistricting in such scenarios, thereby impacting how districts are delineated and represented at both state and federal levels.

Contention

Notably, the proposed bill could stir controversy as it centralizes authority in the state legislature, potentially reducing the checks and balances currently in place. Critics may argue that this changes the nature of local representation and can lead to partisan manipulation of district lines, undermining the fairness that redistricting processes aim to achieve. The balance between legislative authority and judicial oversight will likely be a key point of discussion as stakeholders weigh the implications of such constitutional amendments.