SPONSOR: McGaugh
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Elections by a vote of 9 to 1. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Legislative by a vote of 12 to 0.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HJRs 122, 104 & 149.
Currently, no member of the General Assembly can serve more than eight years total in any one house of the General Assembly, nor more than 16 years total in both houses of the General Assembly.
Upon voter approval, this constitutional amendment would remove the prohibition on a member serving more than eight years total in any one house of the General Assembly, beginning December 5, 2030.
This constitutional amendment would also prohibit any member of the General Assembly from serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives for more than two terms and as President Pro Tem of the Senate for more than one term.
This amendment is similar to HJR 67 (2025).
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that term limits increase the power of political leadership and lobbyists at the expense of the institutional knowledge of the members serving in the legislature. Some of the supposed benefits of term limits, like increasing diversity among members, never materialized. Experience in public service brings many advantages, in the same way experience in any other field would. Term limits encourage elected officials to constantly seek new opportunities to serve rather than allowing them to focus on excelling in the same role for a long time.
Testifying in person for the bill was Representative McGaugh.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that the people of Missouri spoke loud and clear when term limits were approved at the ballot with 75% of the vote in 1992. Politicians shouldn't consider political office a career. Legislators shouldn't get too comfortable or complacent in their positions. Term limits help bring fresh voices to the process.
Testifying in person against the bill was Arnie Dienoff.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.