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SJR 21

Proposing an amendment to the Oregon Constitution relating to redistricting.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Daniel Bonham and 1 co-sponsor

Indiana applies to Congress under Article V for a limited convention to propose term limits on U.S. House and Senate, aggregated with other states to reach 34.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SJR 21

Summary — SJR 21 (Indiana, 124th General Assembly, 2025)

Title: Terms of members of Congress — application for an Article V Convention to propose congressional term limits

Purpose / Intent

SJR 21 is a joint resolution by the Indiana General Assembly applying to the U.S. Congress under Article V of the U.S. Constitution for a Convention for proposing Amendments (an Article V convention) that would be limited to proposing constitutional amendments to impose term limits on members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Key provisions

  • The General Assembly formally applies to Congress to call an Article V convention limited to proposing amendments that:
    1. Set a limit on the number of terms a person may be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; and
    2. Set a limit on the number of terms a person may be elected to the U.S. Senate.
  • The application is explicitly limited to that subject and:
    • Should be aggregated with like applications from other states for the purpose of reaching the two‑thirds threshold (34 state legislatures) required to compel Congress to call a convention on this subject.
    • Shall not be aggregated with applications on different subjects.
  • The application is declared a continuing application under Article V until at least two‑thirds of state legislatures have made similar applications.
  • Certified copies of the resolution are to be sent to:
    • The presiding officers of the U.S. Congress;
    • The Secretary of the U.S. Senate and the Clerk of the U.S. House;
    • The presiding officers of each state legislative chamber; and
    • Indiana’s members of Congress.
  • The resolution does not propose a particular numerical term limit (e.g., two terms); it requests a convention limited to proposing amendments that would set those limits.

Who is affected

  • Members (current and future) of the U.S. House and Senate would be directly affected if a proposed amendment establishing term limits is adopted and later ratified.
  • Indiana’s legislature and other state legislatures (as potential co‑applicants) are affected procedurally.
  • Voters nationwide would be affected indirectly if any amendment proposed by a convention is subsequently ratified by the requisite three‑fourths (38) of the states.

Procedural status / timeline (as recorded)

  • Introduced by Sen. Andy Zay; sponsors and co‑sponsors include B. King, Robyn Gabel, Mark L. Walker, Michael Young, Matt Commons, Tyler Johnson, Chris Jeter, Mike Bohacek, Kyle Miller, Dave Hall.
  • Indiana Senate: passed (third reading) Jan. 27, 2025 — Yeas 31, Nays 18.
  • Indiana House: passed (third reading) March 17, 2025 — Yeas 67, Nays 29.
  • Enrolled/signed by presiding officers in March 2025; recorded as Public Law 246 on March 20, 2025.
  • Effectiveness: this resolution is an application; a federal Article V convention is triggered only if two‑thirds of state legislatures submit similar applications to Congress. Any amendment proposed by such a convention would still require ratification by three‑fourths of the states to become part of the U.S. Constitution.

Practical and legal notes

  • SJR 21 does not itself change the U.S. Constitution or impose term limits — it asks Congress to convene a limited Article V convention for that purpose.
  • There is legal and scholarly disagreement about Article V convention procedures (e.g., delegate selection, scope, and whether a “limited” convention can be confined to a single subject), and “runaway convention” concerns are often raised. Any amendment proposed by a convention would still require state ratification (38 states) to become effective.

Bottom line

SJR 21 is Indiana’s formal, continuing application to Congress for an Article V convention limited to proposing amendments that would establish term limits for members of the U.S. House and Senate. It seeks to join and be aggregated with similar state applications to reach the two‑thirds threshold that would require Congress to call such a convention.

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

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