Top things to know
- Governor González Colón signed Joint Resolution 66-2026 on October 16, 2026, formally requesting US statehood for Puerto Rico.
- The resolution directs federal lawmakers to consider the island's admission on equal terms with existing states.
- Congress holds the constitutional authority to admit new states, requiring federal legislation for Puerto Rico's admission.
- The governor plans to advance a new statehood proposal in Congress following the November 2026 US legislative elections.
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González Colón has signed a formal resolution urging the US President and Congress to admit the island as the 51st state. The measure, designated Joint Resolution 66-2026, was signed on October 16, 2026, following an official ceremony attended by legislators and cabinet secretaries. The resolution directs federal lawmakers to consider the island's admission on equal terms with existing states and establishes statehood as an official policy priority for the local government.
The move follows a November 2020 referendum in which a majority of participating voters supported statehood, a result that did not previously produce federal legislation. Under Article IV, Section 3 of the US Constitution, Congress holds the authority to admit new states, meaning Puerto Rico requires federal legislation to change its territorial status. Governor González has indicated she intends to advance a new statehood proposal in Congress after the November 2026 US legislative elections, though support for admission remains divided in Washington.