HB 2326 — An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, providing for legislative districts.

PRINTER'S NO.   3101

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2326
                                                  Session of
                                                    2026

     INTRODUCED BY INGLIS, MARCH 27, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 30, 2026


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
 2      "An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
 3      special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
 4      primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
 5      and defining membership of county boards of elections;
 6      imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
 7      courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
 8      imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
 9      revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
10      repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
11      elections," providing for legislative districts.
12      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13   hereby enacts as follows:
14      Section 1.     The act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known
15   as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by adding an
16   article to read:
17                              ARTICLE XVIII-C
18                           LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS
19   Section 1801-C.    Population deviation requirement.
20      (a)   Requirement.--
21            (1)   To the extent practicable, senatorial and
22      representative districts shall be drawn with the fewest
23      number of divisions to counties and municipalities within a
 1      population of 2% above or below the ideal population.
 2            (2)   An election district may not be split in the drawing
 3      of district lines.
 4            (3)   Districts shall respect communities of interest to
 5      the extent practicable in compliance with the requirements of
 6      paragraphs (1) and (2).
 7      (b)   Subsequent redistricting.--The requirements of this
 8   section shall apply to all redistricting of legislative
 9   districts after the effective date of this subsection.
10      (c)   Definitions.--The following words and phrases when used
11   in this section shall have the meanings given to them in this
12   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
13      "Community of interest."    An area with recognized
14   similarities of interests, including, but not limited to,
15   ethnic, racial, economic, tribal, social, cultural, geographic
16   or historic identities. Counties, municipalities, townships and
17   school districts may constitute communities of interest so long
18   as the subdivision is a community of people who have broadly
19   shared interests and representational needs that are greater
20   than those of other overlapping communities of interest. A
21   community of interest shall not include common relationships
22   with political parties or political candidates.
23      "Deviation."    The difference of a legislative district's
24   population from the ideal population.
25      "Ideal population."    The population goal for legislative
26   districts in a redistricting plan in accordance with the
27   following:
28            (1)   For representative districts, the total population
29      of this Commonwealth divided by the number of representative
30      districts as provided by section 16 of Article II of the

20260HB2326PN3101                    - 2 -
1     Constitution of Pennsylvania.
2         (2)   For senatorial districts, the total population of
3     this Commonwealth divided by the number of senatorial
4     districts as provided by section 16 of Article II of the
5     Constitution of Pennsylvania.
6     Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20260HB2326PN3101                 - 3 -