HJR 1 (LSB 1117YH (3) 86)

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1

BY  COWNIE

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to term limits for members of the general assembly.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.
  The following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is proposed:

   1.  Section 3 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
   Representatives.  SEC. 3.  The members of the house of representatives shall be chosen every second year, by the qualified electors of their respective districts, and their term of office shall commence on the first day of January next after their election, and continue two years, and until their successors are elected and qualified. No person who has, or but for resignation would have, served six consecutive terms shall be elected as a representative for the succeeding term. If a person is elected to serve a portion of a term to which some other person was elected but that person died in office or resigned from office or was otherwise removed from office, that portion of a term served shall not be included in the consecutive terms of service for purposes of this limitation. The limitation on consecutive terms of service shall only apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2031.
   2.  Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
   Senators —— qualifications.  SEC. 5.  Senators shall be chosen for the term of four years, at the same time and place as representatives; they shall be twenty-five years of age, and possess the qualifications of representatives as to residence and citizenship. No person who has, or but for resignation would have, served three consecutive terms shall be elected as a senator for the succeeding term. If a person is elected to serve a portion of a term to which some other person was elected but that person died in office or resigned from office or was otherwise removed from office, that portion of a term served shall not be included in the consecutive terms of service for purposes of this limitation. The limitation on consecutive terms of service shall only apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2031.
    Sec. 2.
  REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION.
  The foregoing amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred to the general assembly to be chosen at the next general election for members of the general assembly, and the secretary of state is directed to cause the same to be published for three consecutive months previous to the date of that election as provided by law.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to terms of service for persons elected to the offices of representative or senator in the general assembly. The proposed amendment provides that any person elected as a representative shall be eligible to serve six consecutive terms in that position, but shall not be eligible to serve a seventh consecutive term. The amendment provides that any person elected as a senator shall be eligible to serve three consecutive terms in that position, but shall not be eligible to serve a fourth consecutive term. The amendment therefore limits the offices of representatives and senators to 12 consecutive years of service in a particular chamber of the general assembly. The amendment provides that a resignation from office would not serve to break the counting of consecutive terms for the person resigning but would not be counted as a term of office for the person filling the vacancy. The limitation on consecutive terms of service shall commence with terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2031.
   The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.