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Bill Summary · HJ 25

Summary — HJ 25: Joint house resolution calling for the repeal of the 17th Amendment

Purpose / Intent

HJ 25 is a state-level joint house resolution that petitions for the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (the Amendment that established direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote). The resolution’s intent is to request that the federal amendment process be used to return the selection of U.S. Senators to state legislatures (or otherwise remove direct election by voters).

Key provisions

  • The text (as a joint resolution) does not itself change federal law or the U.S. Constitution. Instead it:
    • Formally calls for the repeal of the 17th Amendment.
    • Requests that the state's congressional delegation and/or the U.S. Congress take whatever steps are necessary under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to effect repeal (typically by urging Congress to propose a constitutional amendment or by supporting an Article V convention).
  • No changes to state statutes or election procedures are enacted by this resolution; it is a formal petition/statement of the state legislature’s position.

Legislative history and status (chronological)

  • Drafting and preparation: Dec 12, 2024 – Jan 17, 2025 (various legislative counsel drafting milestones).
  • Introduced to legislature (state-level): Jan 23, 2025 — referred to Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections.
  • House introduction and committee process:
    • Mar 18, 2025 — Introduced in House (first reading).
    • Mar 19, 2025 — Referred to House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee.
    • Mar 24, 2025 — Committee hearing.
    • Mar 28–29, 2025 — Committee executive action; committee reported bill passed.
    • Apr 1, 2025 — Scheduled for 2nd reading; 2nd reading not passed.
    • Apr 7, 2025 — Missed deadline for revenue bill transmittal (administrative deadline noted).
  • Final status: May 20, 2025 — (H) Died in Process (did not complete the legislative process during the session).
  • Related measure: LC 2903 (listed as replacing HJ 25).

Who would be affected

  • Directly: None in the short term — the resolution itself does not change how U.S. Senators are selected.
  • Indirectly/potentially: If the resolution were one step in a broader successful campaign that led to repeal of the 17th Amendment, the primary effects would be on:
    • Voters (loss of direct election of U.S. Senators).
    • State legislatures (would gain formal authority to choose U.S. Senators; increased responsibilities).
    • Political parties and campaign dynamics (shift from statewide popular campaigns to state-legislative lobbying and partisan negotiation).
    • Federal-state relations and representation dynamics in the U.S. Senate.

Practical and constitutional notes

  • A state joint resolution cannot unilaterally repeal a federal constitutional amendment. Repeal requires either:
    • Proposal by two-thirds of both houses of the U.S. Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states; or
    • An Article V constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures (a rarely used and untested route).
  • HJ 25 functioned as a petition expressing the state legislature’s support for initiating that federal amendment process; it did not itself initiate or accomplish repeal.
  • Because HJ 25 died in process, it produced no binding action or legal changes.

Bottom line

HJ 25 was a formal, non-binding state-resolution petition seeking repeal of the 17th Amendment. It advanced through committee but failed to pass the House before the legislative deadline and session end. If adopted and followed by federal action plus multi‑state ratification, the repeal would fundamentally change how U.S. Senators are chosen and shift significant power to state legislatures.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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