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H 7983Elections & Voting

General Assembly - Term Limits for Members of the General Assembly

This bill limits Rhode Island state representatives and senators to serving a maximum of twelve years in each legislative chamber.

Held for study
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House State Government & Elections

Plain-English Summary

This bill establishes term limits for members of the Rhode Island General Assembly. Under this legislation, a person is limited to serving a maximum of twelve years in the House of Representatives and twelve years in the Senate. These limits are counted separately, meaning a legislator could serve the maximum time in both chambers. The time limits only apply to service occurring after the bill passes; previous years served do not count. Additionally, any partial term served that lasts longer than one year counts as a full year toward the limit.

For younger readers

This new rule changes how long leaders can stay in their jobs at the state house. Just like a president can only serve for a certain amount of time, this rule says the people who represent us in the House and the Senate can only stay for twelve years in each group. It is like taking turns so new people get a chance to lead. The rule only starts counting time from right now, so the work they did in the past does not count against the twelve-year limit.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
State LegislatorsVotersPolitical CandidatesLobbyistsPolitical Parties
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Moderate risk

Moderate. While states generally have the authority to regulate their legislatures, attempting to set qualifications for office (like term limits) via statute rather than a Constitutional Amendment is legally precarious. Courts in some jurisdictions have ruled that such statutes conflict with the State Constitution if the Constitution already defines the exclusive qualifications for holding office.

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Disrupts entrenched political power structures and "old boys' networks," creating opportunities for systemic reform and reducing the influence of long-standing political dynasties.
  • Encourages a more diverse array of candidates to run for office, potentially increasing representation for marginalized communities, women, and younger generations who might otherwise be blocked by incumbents.
  • Promotes regular turnover in leadership, ensuring that legislators remain connected to the current needs of the community rather than becoming career politicians focused on self-preservation.
  • Removes experienced legislators with deep institutional knowledge, which may force new lawmakers to rely heavily on corporate lobbyists and unelected staff for policy expertise.
  • Weakens the legislature's ability to effectively oversee the executive branch and manage complex social safety net programs, potentially harming the delivery of vital public services.
  • Restricts the democratic rights of voters to re-elect effective champions of social justice and progressive causes who have built strong, long-term relationships with their constituencies.
For Conservatives
  • Prevents the formation of a permanent political class, aligning with the traditional ideal of a citizen legislature where individuals serve temporarily and then return to private life.
  • Reduces the accumulation of power and influence by career politicians, potentially curbing government overreach and the expansion of the administrative state.
  • Encourages fresh leadership that may be more willing to challenge the status quo, cut wasteful spending, and reduce the tax burden on citizens and businesses.
  • Restricts the freedom of voters to choose their preferred candidate, effectively removing the right to re-elect a representative who aligns with their values and interests.
  • May inadvertently shift power from elected representatives to unelected bureaucrats and administrative staff who are not accountable to the voters, strengthening the "deep state."
  • The prospective nature of the bill allows current entrenched politicians to remain in power for another twelve years rather than removing them immediately.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 29 additions

SECTION 1. Legislative findings and purpose. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that reasonable term limits promote public confidence in government, encourage civic participation, create opportunities for new leadership, and preserve institutional knowledge while preventing the concentration of political power. It is the intent of this act to limit service in each chamber of the general assembly to twelve

(12) years, prospectively, beginning on the effective date of this act.

SECTION 2. Title 22 of the General Laws entitled "GENERAL ASSEMBLY" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 22-20-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Term Limits for Members of the General Assembly”. 22-20-2. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following word and term shall have the following meaning unless the context shall clearly indicate another or different meaning or intent:

(1) “Years of service” or “service” means the years served in a respective chamber of the general assembly as an elected official, whether consecutive or nonconsecutive. 22-20-3. Term limits for members of the general assembly.

(a) No person shall serve more than twelve (12) years in the house of representatives, and no person shall serve more than twelve (12) years in the senate.

(b) Any partial term exceeding one year shall count as one year toward the twelve (12) year limitation. Any partial term of one year or less shall not be counted.

(c) Service in the house of representatives shall be counted separately from service in the senate, and service in the senate shall be counted separately from service in the house of representatives. A person who has reached the twelve (12) year limitation in one chamber may seek election to the other chamber, subject to the same twelve (12) year limitation applicable to that chamber. 22-20-4. Prospective application.

(a) The twelve (12) year limitation established by this chapter shall apply only to service occurring on or after the effective date of this chapter.

(b) No service completed prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be counted toward the twelve (12) year term limitation. 22-20-5. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this chapter shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this chapter but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part directly involved in the controversy in which that judgment shall have been rendered.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.