SB 124 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE IV, SECTIONS 4 AND 6, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION REGARDING REAPPORTIONMENT.

Summary

Proposes a constitutional amendment to specify that reapportionment shall be based on the resident population, as counted in the decennial United States census for the respective reapportionment year, rather than the permanent resident population. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB124 → SB124_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends the Hawaii State Constitution to change the basis for redrawing legislative districts from 'permanent residents' to 'total residents' as counted in the census. This change aims to include military members, their dependents, and college students in the population count, ensuring they are represented in local government rather than being excluded or counted in other states.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of reapportionment to include non-permanent residents (such as military personnel and students) who currently live in Hawaii but are not counted as permanent residents.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the definition of the population base for redistricting from 'permanent residents' to 'total residents' as reported by the decennial census.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the specific requirement that reapportionment must be based on the 'most recent' decennial census, simplifying the language to just 'decennial census'.

DEFINITION

Updated the legislative findings to reflect that forty-seven states (instead of forty-nine) use the 'usual residence' standard, aligning the state's rationale with federal practices.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a typo changing 'census tracks' to 'census tracts' and updated metadata to reflect the new SD1 version.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 10, 2025

Introduced

Notice of bill proposing constitutional amendment transmitted to Governor pursuant to Article XVII, Section 3 (Sen. Com. No. 1).

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 92) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 21; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella. Noes, 4 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, McKelvey, San Buenaventura). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 73) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 2 No(es): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 10, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors