HJR95 - Proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the time that a person may serve as a member of the Texas Legislature, a statewide elected officer in the executive branch, or a state employee in the legislative or executive branch of state government.

  89R3714 JCG-D     By: Tepper H.J.R. No. 95       A JOINT RESOLUTION   proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the time that a   person may serve as a member of the Texas Legislature, a statewide   elected officer in the executive branch, or a state employee in the   legislative or executive branch of state government.          BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by   adding Section 7a to read as follows:           Sec.   7a.     (a)   A person is not eligible to be elected to the   house of representatives if, before the date of the election, the   person has served as a member of the house for eight whole regular   sessions of the legislature.           (b)     A person is not eligible to be elected to the senate if,   before the date of the election, the person has served as a member   of the senate for eight whole regular sessions of the legislature.   This subsection does not prohibit a person who has served as a   member of the senate for seven whole regular sessions of the   legislature from being elected to or serving a four-year term in the   senate even though at the end of that term the person will have   served for more than eight whole regular sessions.           (c)     A person is not eligible to be elected to the house of   representatives or the senate if, before the date of election, the   person has served in either chamber of the legislature for 12 whole   regular sessions of the legislature. This section does not   prohibit a person who has served in either chamber of the   legislature for 11 whole regular sessions of the legislature from   being elected to or serving a four-year term in the senate even   though at the end of that term the person will have served for more   than 12 whole regular sessions.           (d)     For purposes of this section, a person is considered to   have served for one whole regular session of the legislature for   every two years the person served in an elective office listed in   Section 1, Article IV, of this constitution or any other state   office elected by the voters at a statewide election other than a   judicial office.   For purposes of this subsection, "year"   means 12   consecutive months.           (e)     Legislative service before the legislature convenes in   regular session in 2027 is not counted in determining whether a   person is disqualified from election to office under this section.     Service in an elective office listed in Section 1, Article IV, of   this constitution, or service in any other state office elected by   the voters at a statewide election other than a judicial office,   whose term of office is completed on or before January 1, 2027, is   not counted in determining whether a person is disqualified from   election to office under this section.          SECTION 2.   Article IV, Texas Constitution, is amended by   adding Section 2a to read as follows:           Sec.   2a.   (a)     In this section, "year"   means 12 consecutive   months.           (b)     A person is not eligible to be elected to an elective   office listed in Section 1 of this article or to any other state   office elected by the voters at a statewide election, other than a   judicial office, if on or before the date the person will begin to   serve in that office the person will have served for a total of 16 or   more years in those offices.           (c)     For purposes of this section, a person is considered to   have served for two years in an office described by Subsection (b)   of this section for each whole regular session the person served as   a representative or senator in the legislature.           (d)     Nothing in this section prohibits a person from   continuing to serve in an office covered by this section after the   end of a term as a holdover under Section 17, Article XVI, of this   constitution until a successor is qualified.           (e)     Service in office before January 1, 2027, does not count   for purposes of determining whether a person is disqualified from   office under this section.          SECTION 3.  Article XVI, Texas Constitution, is amended by   adding Section 74 to read as follows:           Sec.   74.     The legislature by general law shall prohibit any   state employee from serving for a total of more than 24 years in the   legislative or executive branch of state government.          SECTION 4.   This proposed constitutional amendment shall be   submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025.   The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the   following proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to limit the   time that a person may serve as a member of the Texas Legislature, a   statewide elected officer in the executive branch, or a state   employee in the legislative or executive branch of state   government."