Puerto Rico Status Act

Senate Bill 2944, the Puerto Rico Status Act, establishes a process for Puerto Rico to determine its political status through a plebiscite on August 4, 2024, offering four options: independence, sovereignty in free association with the United States, statehood, or maintaining the current commonwealth status. If no option receives a majority in the initial vote, a runoff plebiscite will be held on March 16, 2025, between the two top options. The bill mandates a nonpartisan voter education campaign and specifies detailed ballot language explaining each status option's implications for citizenship, immigration, and federal benefits. This legislation directly affects Puerto Rico residents eligible to vote and would determine Puerto Rico's future political relationship with the United States.