Hawaii Senate Bill SB927

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/20/23
• Refer: 1/27/23
• Report Pass: 2/7/23
• Report Pass: 3/3/23
• Refer: 2/7/23
• Engrossed: 3/7/23
• Refer: 3/9/23
• Enrolled: 3/13/23

Caption

Proposing Amendments To Article Iv, Sections 4 And 6, Of The Hawaii State Constitution Regarding Reapportionment.

Impact

The bill's proponents argue that including all residents for reapportionment aligns Hawaii with the practices of 49 other states, ensuring that all individuals living in a specific area are counted for representation purposes. Supporters note that this change would remedy existing disparities in representation and ensure compliance with the United States Constitution's equal protection clause, which mandates equal representation for all individuals. The exclusion of non-permanent residents has previously led to scenarios where certain districts have a negative net population due to improper accounting.

Summary

Senate Bill 927 proposes amendments to Article IV, Sections 4 and 6 of the Hawaii State Constitution to change the basis for reapportionment from 'permanent residents' to the total resident population as counted by the decennial United States census. This change aims to include non-permanent residents such as military members, their dependents, and college students in the population counts used for drawing electoral district boundaries. Currently, Hawaii's reapportionment process is unique, as it excludes non-permanent residents from the population to determine legislative representation, leading to potential unequal representation across districts.

Contention

Opponents of the bill may raise concerns about the practicality and implications of counting non-permanent residents, particularly in terms of resource allocation and the political implications of potentially shifting representation from established permanent residents to transient populations. Some lawmakers may fear that altering the basis for reapportionment could disrupt the current political landscape and lead to conflicts regarding resource allocation among constituents. Thus, while this amendment seeks to promote equal representation, it also introduces a complex debate on fairness and political dynamics within the state.