House Joint Resolution 2005 - Introduced HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 2005 BY COWNIE HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution 1 of the State of Iowa limiting years of service for members 2 of the general assembly. 3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5807YH (3) 87 ss/jh
H.J.R. 2005 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of 1 the State of Iowa is proposed: 2 1. Section 3 of Article III of the Constitution of the State 3 of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof: 4 Representatives. SEC. 3. The members of the house of 5 representatives shall be chosen every second year, by the 6 qualified electors of their respective districts, and their 7 term of office shall commence on the first day of January next 8 after their election, and continue two years, and until their 9 successors are elected and qualified. A person shall not be 10 elected for a term as representative if the term would result 11 in the person serving more than a total of sixteen years in the 12 general assembly. This limitation on years of service applies 13 to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2023, and 14 for years of service occurring on or after January 1, 2023. 15 2. Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State 16 of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof: 17 Senators —— qualifications. SEC. 5. Senators shall be 18 chosen for the term of four years, at the same time and place as 19 representatives; they shall be twenty-five years of age, and 20 possess the qualifications of representatives as to residence 21 and citizenship. A person shall not be elected for a term as 22 senator if the term would result in the person serving more 23 than a total of sixteen years in the general assembly. This 24 limitation on terms of service applies to terms of office 25 beginning on or after January 1, 2023, and for years of service 26 occurring on or after January 1, 2023. 27 Sec. 2. REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION. The foregoing amendment 28 to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred to the 29 general assembly to be chosen at the next general election 30 for members of the general assembly, and the secretary of 31 state is directed to cause the same to be published for three 32 consecutive months previous to the date of that election as 33 provided by law. 34 EXPLANATION 35 -1- LSB 5807YH (3) 87 ss/jh 1/ 2
H.J.R. 2005 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 1 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the 3 Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting years of service 4 for persons elected to the general assembly. The amendment 5 provides that a person shall not be elected for a term as a 6 representative or senator if the term would result in the 7 person serving more than 16 years in the general assembly. The 8 amendment applies to terms of office beginning on or after 9 January 1, 2023, and for years of service occurring on or after 10 January 1, 2023. 11 The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next 12 general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the 13 electorate for ratification. 14 -2- LSB 5807YH (3) 87 ss/jh 2/ 2