Bills › 89th General Assembly
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting terms of service for members of the general assembly
Topics:State government
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 20, 2021
- Stopped: Approved in committeeDid not pass
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Passes again next General AssemblyThe same wording, after an election
- Next: Voters decideOn the next general election ballot
Did not pass It didn’t pass both chambers before the General Assembly ended. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa voters could change the state constitution to limit how long people can serve in the legislature. Under this rule, members of the House of Representatives could serve no more than six terms, and members of the Senate could serve no more than three terms. These limits would start applying to terms beginning on or after January 1, 2027.1
Read the official explanation
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting terms 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 shall not serve more than six terms as a representative, and that a member of the senate shall not serve more than three terms as a senator. The amendment provides that if a person is elected to serve a portion of a term in these respective offices, the term shall not be included in counting terms of service if the person did not serve at least one-half of the full term. The amendment applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2027. The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 9, 2021. It hasn’t reported yet.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
Cost: up to $14,400 Compare with other bills
AI summary This constitutional amendment would limit the number of terms members of the Iowa House and Senate can serve. The estimated cost to publish the amendment if passed during the 2021 Legislative Session is $14,400 in fiscal year 2023. If passed a second time during the 2023 Legislative Session, the estimated cost to publish in all 99 counties would be $178,200 in fiscal year 2025, paid from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.3
Read the fiscal note
Description
Senate Joint Resolution 3 proposes an amendment to the Iowa Constitution limiting the terms of service for persons elected to the Iowa House and Iowa Senate. The amendment provides that a member of the House of Representatives shall not serve more than six two-year terms as a Representative, and that a member of the Senate shall not serve more than three four-year terms as a Senator. The amendment also provides that if a person is elected to serve a portion of a term, the term shall not be included in counting terms of service if the person did not serve at least one-half of the full term. The amendment applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
Background
Iowa Code section 49A.1 and the Iowa Constitution require that when a proposed amendment to the Constitution has passed by the General Assembly and has been referred to the next succeeding General Assembly, the General Assembly is required to publish the proposed amendment in two newspapers of general circulation in each Iowa congressional district once each month, for three consecutive months, prior to the start of the next General Assembly. The General Assembly is also required to make the amendment available on an Internet site. Upon passage of the same amendment by the succeeding General Assembly, Iowa Code section 49A.2 requires the amendment to be published in newspapers in all 99 counties once each month, for three consecutive months, immediately preceding the general election. Iowa Code section 49A.9 requires constitutional amendment publication expenses be paid by the State Commissioner of Elections (Secretary of State).
Assumptions
- The average cost to publish an amendment in a single newspaper is $600.
- Publication of the initial amendment would occur in eight newspapers (two in each congressional district) for a three-month period, if passed by the 89th General Assembly.
- Subsequent publication of the amendment would occur in 99 newspapers (one in each county) for a three-month period if the amendment were passed by the 90th General Assembly.
Fiscal Impact
Constitutional Amendment Publication Cost. The estimated cost to publish a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the General Assembly during the 2021 Legislative Session would be $14,400 (8 newspapers x 3 months x $600). The costs would be incurred in the fall of 2022 (FY 2023).
Assuming the proposed amendment is passed a second time during the 2023 Legislative Session, the estimated cost would be $178,200 (99 newspapers x 3 months x $600). The costs would be incurred in the fall of 2024 (FY 2025).
These publication costs would be paid from moneys appropriated to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.
Sources
- Legislative Services Agency
- Office of the Secretary of State
- Legislative Term Limits, Constitutional Amendment · January 27, 2021 · $14,400
Lobbying
0 for · 0 against · 1 undecided · Who →
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Tried before
89th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SJR 4 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting terms of service …88th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- SJR 3 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting years of service …90th General Assembly · In committeeVery similar
Matched by wording or an identical title.