PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 4, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH TERM LIMITS FOR LEGISLATORS.

HB298

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

298

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

proposing
an amendment to article III, Section 4, of the constitution of the state of
hawaii to establish term limits for legislators
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that, according to a
2023 Pew Research study, a vast majority of Americans support term limits for
legislators.
�
Concern regarding career
politicians and the recent issues of public corruption have many residents
worried about the status of legislative term limits.
�
While the residents have often called for
legislative reform, one measure that has consistently not been adopted is
term limits for legislators
.

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The legislature also finds that at
least fifteen states have limits
on the number of years a person may serve as a member of the
legislature during the person's lifetime
, which range from eight to
twelve years.
�
Given the legislature's part-time nature and the differences
between the house of representatives and the senate, the twelve-year term limit
between the two chambers would be most equitable
.

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The purpose of
this Act is to propose an amendment to article III, section 4, of the
Constitution of the State of Hawaii to limit the terms of members of the
legislature to a maximum of
twelve
years in the
house of representatives or senate, or both, for terms beginning on or after
the general election of 2026, and to include a grandfather clause as to not
disqualify those legislators who have already exceeded the proposed twelve-year
limit.

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SECTION 2.
�
Article III, section 4, of the Constitution
of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"
ELECTION OF MEMBERS; TERM

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Section 4.
�
Each member of the legislature shall be
elected at an election.
�
If more than one
candidate has been nominated for election to a seat in the legislature, the
member occupying that seat shall be elected at a general election.
�
If a candidate nominated for a seat at a
primary election is unopposed for that seat at the general election, the
candidate shall be deemed elected at the primary election.
�
The term of office of a member of the house
of representatives shall be two years and the term of office of a member of the
senate shall be four years [
.
]
; provided that for terms beginning on
or after the general election of 2026, no member of the legislature shall serve
for more than twelve years total between the house of representatives or
senate, or both.
�
The term of a
member of the legislature shall begin on the day of the general election at
which elected or if elected at a primary election, on the day of the general
election immediately following the primary election at which elected.
�
For a member of the house of representatives,
the term shall end on the day of the general election immediately following the
day the member's term commences.
�
For a
member of the senate, the term shall end on the day of the second general
election immediately following the day the member's term commences."

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SECTION 3.
�
The question to be printed on the ballot
shall be as follows:

"Shall a member of the Hawaii state
legislature be limited to serving no more than twelve years in the Hawaii state
house of representatives or senate, or both, for terms beginning on or after
the general election of 2026?"

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SECTION 4.
�
Constitutional material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken. New constitutional material is underscored.

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SECTION 5.
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This amendment shall take effect upon
compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of
Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Term
Limits; Constitutional Amendment; Minority Caucus Package

Description:

Proposes
a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of members of the legislature to
a maximum of twelve years in the house of representatives or senate, or both,
for terms beginning on or after the general election of 2026.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.