AN ACT proposing an amendment to Section 32 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to terms of members of the General Assembly.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kim Banta and 1 co-sponsor

HB 288 would propose a constitutional change to Kentucky Section 32 to alter term lengths or term limits for General Assembly members.

to Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (H)

#constitution #ky. #electionsandvoting #generalassembly #localmandate

Summary of HB 288 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky)

Purpose andIntent

HB 288 proposes an amendment to Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution to address terms of members of the General Assembly. The bill aims to modify constitutional provisions related to the length and/or limits of terms for members of the Kentucky House of Representatives and/or Senate. The precise constitutional language to be amended is not provided in the bill description, but the focus is on term lengths or term limits for General Assembly members.

Key Provisions (as typical for a constitutional amendment proposal)

Constitutional Amendment: The measure would amend Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution. Constitutional amendments require passage by the General Assembly in two consecutive sessions and, if approved, may be placed before voters in a statewide referendum.

Scope of Change: The amendment would change terms for General Assembly members. This could involve:

Extending or shortening term lengths (e.g., moving from two-year terms for House members and four-year terms for Senators to a uniform term length, or adjusting term limits in terms of consecutive service).
Introducing or modifying term-limit restrictions (e.g., maximum number of consecutive terms or overall term caps).

Implementation: If approved by the General Assembly in the current session and a subsequent session, the amendment would be submitted to voters for ratification. If ratified, the constitutional change would take effect according to the amendment’s provisions and any specified phased-in timeline.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Members of the Kentucky General Assembly: The primary direct impact would be to current and future legislators in terms of how long they may serve before being required to leave office (depending on the exact language of the amendment).

Electorate: Voters would be given the opportunity to approve or reject the constitutional change in a statewide ballot if the measure passes the required legislative milestones.

State government operations: Potential long-term effects on leadership turnover, continuity, and electoral dynamics within the General Assembly.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

Current Status: HB 288 was introduced in the Kentucky House (January 9, 2026) and referred to the Committee on Committees; subsequently routed to Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (H) on January 16, 2026.

Next Steps (procedural):

The bill would need passage by the Kentucky House and Senate in two consecutive legislative sessions (or as stipulated by constitutional amendment procedures) to be placed on the statewide ballot.
If approved by voters in a referendum, the amendment would become part of the Kentucky Constitution and govern term lengths/limits for General Assembly members.

Effective Date: Dependent on the constitutional amendment’s final ratification and any effective-date language included in the amendment or the enabling statutes.

Notes for Readers

Specifics of the proposed amendment (e.g., exact changes to term lengths or the presence/absence of term limits) are not detailed in the provided overview. The exact statutory and constitutional language would determine the practical impact for legislators and elections.

Interested readers should monitor committee reports, floor amendments, and the final text to understand the precise changes HB 288 seeks to make to Section 32.