Congress; urge to call convention to propose an amendment to U.S. Constitution to provide congressional term limits.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Elliot Burch and 4 co-sponsors

Urges Congress to trigger an Article V convention to propose a constitutional amendment establishing congressional term limits; a non-binding, symbolic state stance.

Died In Committee

#rules

HC 12: Summary of the Bill

Executive Summary

HC 12 is a House Concurrent Resolution that would urge the United States Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution establishing congressional term limits. It is a non-binding, state-level expression of the legislature’s position, not a federal law. The bill was introduced on January 15, 2025, referred to the Rules committee, and died in committee on April 3, 2025.

Purpose and Intent

The primary aim is to advocate for a process at the federal level to consider term limits for members of Congress.

It seeks to prompt a constitutional path (an Article V convention) to generate an amendatory proposal, rather than to enact term limits directly at the state level.

Key Provisions

Status: Concurrent resolution (HC), meaning it expresses the sentiment or position of both chambers of the state legislature.

Action urged: Calls on the U.S. Congress to initiate an Article V constitutional convention to propose an amendment that would establish congressional term limits.

Scope: Focused on urging federal action; does not itself set term-limit rules, nor does it impose changes upon the state or federal government by force of law.

Nature of effect: Non-binding in nature; serves as a formal recommendation or request from the state legislature rather than a law or binding directive.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Affected parties: Members of the U.S. Congress could be affected if an amendment is proposed and subsequently ratified, but the bill itself has no immediate regulatory effect.

General public: Signals state-level support for term limits, potentially influencing public discourse and federal consideration.

No direct fiscal or administrative obligations for the state are created by this resolution.

Procedural History and Timeline

Introduced: January 15, 2025.

Referred to: Rules committee on January 15, 2025.

Action: Died in committee on April 3, 2025, meaning it did not advance to the full chamber for a vote in that session.

Current status: Inactive for the remainder of the session; could be reintroduced in a future session.

Context and Considerations

Article V Convention: The bill relies on the rarely invoked process whereby two-thirds of state legislatures (or conventions called by states) could propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which would then need ratification by the states.

Limitations: As a concurrent resolution, its effect is symbolic and procedural rather than legally binding; it does not, by itself, create term limits or alter existing law.

Bottom Line

HC 12 would have publicly aligned the state legislature with a push for a national constitutional convention to consider term-limit amendments for Congress. With its passage blocked in committee, the measure did not progress in this session.