WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HJR 190

Proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the time that a person may serve as a member of the Texas House of Representatives to 12 consecutive years and as a member of the Texas Senate to 14 consecutive years.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Daniel Alders and 17 co-sponsors

Texas constitutional amendment would limit House members to 12 consecutive years and senators to 14 consecutive years, requiring voter approval to implement term limits on state legislators.

Referred to State Affairs
#legislature(i0520) #resolutions--constitutionalamendments(i0661) #termlimits(s0105)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HJR 190

Legislative bill overview

HJR 190 proposes a Texas constitutional amendment imposing term limits on state legislators: 12 consecutive years for House members and 14 consecutive years for Senate members. As a joint resolution, this would require voter approval through a statewide referendum to take effect.

Why is this important

Term limits would fundamentally reshape Texas legislative dynamics by forcing regular turnover in a legislature where many members currently serve 20+ years. This could affect institutional knowledge, committee seniority systems, and the balance of power between experienced lawmakers and newly elected representatives.

Potential points of contention

  • Loss of institutional expertise: Veteran legislators bring deep knowledge of complex policy issues and legislative processes; forced turnover could reduce effectiveness on technical matters
  • Increased lobbyist influence: Less experienced lawmakers may rely more heavily on lobbyist expertise and outside counsel, potentially shifting power away from elected representatives
  • Voter choice restriction: Term limits prevent voters from re-electing preferred incumbents, raising questions about democratic autonomy and representation preferences
  • Senate advantage: The 14-year Senate limit (versus 12-year House limit) means senators can serve longer despite representing larger populations, creating unequal tenure opportunities
  • Implementation complexity: Determining "consecutive" service definitions and handling special elections or vacant seats requires careful legislative drafting

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

Sign in to ask a question.