AN ACT RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- TERM LIMITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Establishes a term limit of twelve years for members serving in the general assembly.)

H7983

2026 -- H 7983
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LC005772
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- TERM LIMITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Introduced By:
Representatives Cotter, McGaw, Morales, and Stewart

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House State Government & Elections
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Legislative findings and purpose.
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The general assembly hereby finds and declares that reasonable term limits promote public
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confidence in government, encourage civic participation, create opportunities for new leadership,
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and preserve institutional knowledge while preventing the concentration of political power.
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It is the intent of this act to limit service in each chamber of the general assembly to twelve
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(12) years, prospectively, beginning on the effective date of this act.
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SECTION 2. Title 22 of the General Laws entitled "GENERAL ASSEMBLY" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 20
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TERM LIMITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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22-20-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Term Limits for Members of the
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General Assembly”.
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22-20-2. Definitions.

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As used in this chapter, the following word and term shall have the following meaning
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unless the context shall clearly indicate another or different meaning or intent:
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(1) “Years of service” or “service” means the years served in a respective chamber of the
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general assembly as an elected official, whether consecutive or nonconsecutive.

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22-20-3. Term limits for members of the general assembly.

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(a) No person shall serve more than twelve (12) years in the house of representatives, and
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no person shall serve more than twelve (12) years in the senate.
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(b) Any partial term exceeding one year shall count as one year toward the twelve (12) year
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limitation. Any partial term of one year or less shall not be counted.
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(c) Service in the house of representatives shall be counted separately from service in the
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senate, and service in the senate shall be counted separately from service in the house of
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representatives. A person who has reached the twelve (12) year limitation in one chamber may seek
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election to the other chamber, subject to the same twelve (12) year limitation applicable to that
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chamber.
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22-20-4. Prospective application.

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(a) The twelve (12) year limitation established by this chapter shall apply only to service
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occurring on or after the effective date of this chapter.
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(b) No service completed prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be counted toward
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the twelve (12) year term limitation.
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22-20-5. Severability.

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If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this chapter shall be adjudged by any
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court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, that judgment shall not
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affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this chapter but shall be confined in its operation to
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the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part directly involved in the controversy in which that
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judgment shall have been rendered.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- TERM LIMITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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This act would establish a term limit of twelve years for members serving in the general
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assembly as follows:
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(1) Service in the house would be counted separately from service in the senate, and
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service in the senate would be counted separately from service in the house. A person who has
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reached the twelve-year limit in one chamber would be allowed to seek election to the other
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chamber, subject to the same twelve-year limit.
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(2) Any partial term of one year or less would not be counted.
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(3) The twelve-year limitation would apply only to service occurring on or after the
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effective date of this act.
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(4) No service completed prior to the effective date of this act would be counted toward
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the twelve- year term limit.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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