Hawaii Senate Bill SB3202

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/26/22
• Refer: 1/26/22

Caption

Proposing To Amend Article Iv Of The Hawaii State Constitution.

Impact

If enacted, this amendment would affect how legislative districts are drawn in Hawaii, ensuring that the count of 'permanent residents' aligns directly with official census data. This could lead to changes in the allocation of seats within the state legislature, as districts might be redrawn based on updated population counts. This has implications for political representation as well as resource allocation for state services which rely on accurate census data to assess population needs.

Summary

SB3202 proposes an amendment to Article IV of the Hawaii State Constitution regarding the definition of 'permanent resident'. The aim of this bill is to clarify that a 'permanent resident' is any person counted as residing in the State according to the most recent census certified by the United States Census Bureau or any successor federal agency. This definition is significant as it pertains to legislative reapportionment and redistricting processes, which can influence representation within the state legislature.

Contention

While the bill seeks to standardize the definition of 'permanent resident', potential points of contention may arise regarding how this impacts various communities, especially those with transient populations. Critics may argue that defining 'permanent' strictly according to the census could disenfranchise certain groups or fail to represent the actual demographics of the state due to the nature of census reporting. As this amendment moves through the legislative process, public input and feedback may shape its acceptance and implementation.