SJR 3 (LSB 1116XS (3) 90)

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 3

BY  DAWSON

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting years of service 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  Section 3 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
   Sec. 3.  Representatives.  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. A person shall not be elected for a term as representative if the term would result in the person serving more than a total of twenty years as a member of the general assembly. This limitation on years of service applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2029.
   2.  Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
   Sec. 5.  Senators —— qualifications.  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. A person shall not be elected for a term as senator if the term would result in the person serving more than a total of twenty years as a member of the general assembly. This limitation on years of service applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2029.
    Sec. 2.
  REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION.
  The foregoing proposed 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 shall be published as provided by law for three months previous to the date of that election.
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 limiting years of service for persons elected to the office of representative or senator in the general assembly. The amendment provides that a member of the house of representatives or the senate shall not serve more than 20 years as a member of the general assembly. The amendment applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2029. 
   The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.