New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A4773

Introduced
9/19/24  

Caption

"Restoring the Representation of Legal Residents Act;" requires Secretary of State to adjust census apportionment and redistricting data to remove illegal alien population for apportionment and redistricting purposes in this State.

Impact

If enacted, A4773 would revise how New Jersey conducts its census-related calculations for the purpose of political representation. The proposed adjustment in the census data would mean that areas with a lower illegal population would gain more political weight, potentially impacting the distribution of Congressional seats and local legislative bodies. This could lead to a significant shift in political power dynamics, favoring areas with legal residents over those with higher illegal populations.

Summary

Assembly Bill A4773, titled the 'Restoring the Representation of Legal Residents Act', mandates the Secretary of State of New Jersey to exclude illegal aliens from census apportionment and redistricting data. The bill asserts that the inclusion of illegal immigrants in census figures unjustly diminishes the political representation of legal residents in areas with fewer illegal aliens. The premise is that a skewed representation could affect the apportioning of seats in both the U.S. Congress and state legislative districts.

Contention

The bill has sparked a contentious debate, with proponents arguing that it ensures fair representation for legal residents, while opponents view it as discriminatory against immigrant populations. Critics argue that the measure could further marginalize communities with high immigrant populations and promote a narrative of exclusion rather than inclusivity in legislative representation. The methodology for how the adjustment would be executed also raises concerns about data accuracy and the resources required for implementation.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

NJ A4734

Requires Secretary of State to adjust census redistricting data to remove noncitizens for redistricting purposes in this State.

NJ S3488

Requires Secretary of State to adjust census redistricting data to remove noncitizens for redistricting purposes in this State.

NJ HB182

Districting - Single Member Districts and Legislative and Congressional Redistricting and Apportionment Convention

NJ HB203

Districting - Single-Member Districts and Legislative and Congressional Redistricting and Apportionment Convention

NJ HJR1001

A Constitutional Amendment To Create The Citizens' Redistricting Commission And To Repeal The Board Of Apportionment.

NJ H7070

Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the secretary of state to be utilized for redistricting.

NJ H5274

Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the secretary of state to be utilized for redistricting.

NJ H5538

Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the division of statewide planning, to be utilized for redistricting.

NJ S0524

Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the division of statewide planning, to be utilized for redistricting.

NJ HB221

Relating to the Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission and the redistricting of the districts used to elect members of the United States House of Representatives, the Texas Legislature, and the State Board of Education.

Similar Bills

NJ A4734

Requires Secretary of State to adjust census redistricting data to remove noncitizens for redistricting purposes in this State.

NJ S3488

Requires Secretary of State to adjust census redistricting data to remove noncitizens for redistricting purposes in this State.

AR HJR1001

A Constitutional Amendment To Create The Citizens' Redistricting Commission And To Repeal The Board Of Apportionment.

TX SJR43

Proposing a constitutional amendment establishing the Texas Redistricting Commission and providing redistricting procedures for state legislative, state judicial, and congressional districts.

TX SJR56

Proposing a constitutional amendment establishing the Texas Redistricting Commission and providing redistricting procedures for state legislative, state judicial, and congressional districts.

NH CACR19

Relating to redistricting. Providing that an independent redistricting commission shall be established to draw boundaries for state and federal offices.

WV HB2549

Creating the Independent Redistricting Commission of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance

WV HB4648

Creating the Independent Redistricting Commission of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance