Reform tracker · 50 states
Legislative term limits
Limits on how long a person may serve in the state legislature.
- States
- 50
- Not confirmed
- 1 value
- Changes pending
- 1
Research draft. We gathered this from official sources: election offices, state laws and court records, each linked to its source. Separate reviewers checked a random sample of 64 facts from the reform research against the cited sources and found 6 errors, since corrected; 1 couldn’t be checked because the source wouldn’t display its text. The rest hasn't been reviewed fact by fact yet, so check the linked source before relying on anything here.
§1Every state
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
- Lifetime limit
- Legislators can serve only a set number of years or terms in total.
- Consecutive-term limit
- Legislators must step away after a set number of consecutive years or terms, and may return later.
- No limit
- Legislators can be re-elected without limit.
- Other
- A limit that doesn’t fit these types; the note explains it.
- Not confirmed
- We couldn’t confirm this from an official source.
A full mark means a limit on total years or terms; a half mark, a limit on consecutive years or terms. The marks show how far the practice applies, not whether it is a good idea.
- Lifetime limit6 states
- Consecutive-term limit10 states
- No limit33 states
- Not confirmed1 state
| State | Status | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No limit1 | The Legislature's own summary of a 2023 term-limit proposal (HB394) states that existing law sets no limit on how many terms a member of the Alabama House or Senate may serve.1 Where in the source: Synopsis, p. 1 None of the four statewide constitutional amendments certified for the November 3, 2026 ballot deals with legislative term limits.2 |
| Alaska | No limit3 | Article II of the Alaska Constitution sets two-year terms for representatives and four-year terms for senators and places no limit on how many terms a legislator may serve.3 Where in the source: Art. II, §§ 2-3 The constitution's only tenure limit for elected state office applies to the governor, who may not serve more than two full terms in a row.3 Where in the source: Art. III, § 5 |
| Arizona | Consecutive-term limit4 | Legislators serve two-year terms, and no one may serve more than four terms in a row in the Senate or four terms in a row in the House.4 Where in the source: Art. 4, Pt. 2, § 21 A legislator who reaches the limit may run for the same office again after being out of it for at least one full term; any part of a term counts toward the limit.4 Where in the source: Art. 4, Pt. 2, § 21 |
| Arkansas | Consecutive-term limit5 | Legislators first elected on or after January 1, 2021 may serve no more than 12 consecutive years, counting House and Senate service together, and may return after four years out of the General Assembly.5 Where in the source: Ark. Const. amend. 73, § 2(c)(2), as amended by amend. 102 (PDF p. 726) Legislators first elected before 2021 are limited to 16 years in total, consecutive or not, in either or both chambers, and may return after four years out, after which the 12-consecutive-year rule applies.5 Where in the source: Ark. Const. amend. 73, § 2(c)(1) Voters approved the current rule as Amendment 102 at the 2020 general election, effective January 1, 2021.5 Where in the source: Publisher's notes to amend. 73, § 2 (PDF p. 727) |
| California | Lifetime limit6, | Legislators first elected after June 5, 2012 may serve a total of 12 years in the Legislature during their lifetime, in the Assembly, the Senate or a mix of both.6 Where in the source: Proposal Voters approved this rule as Proposition 28 at the June 5, 2012 primary, 61 percent to 39 percent; legislators first elected on or before that date stayed under the earlier limits of six years in the Assembly and eight in the Senate.6,
|
| Colorado | Consecutive-term limit8 | A state senator may serve no more than two four-year terms in a row, and a state representative no more than four two-year terms in a row.8 Where in the source: art. V, § 3 Terms count as consecutive unless they are at least four years apart, and filling a vacancy for at least half a term counts as a full term.8 Where in the source: art. V, § 3(2) |
| Connecticut | No limit9 | State senators and representatives serve two-year terms, and the state constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.9 Where in the source: art. III, § 10 |
| Delaware | No limit10 | State representatives serve two-year terms and state senators four-year terms, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.10, |
| Florida | Consecutive-term limit12 | A state representative or state senator may not appear on the ballot for re-election if, by the end of the current term, he or she will have served eight consecutive years in that office.12 Where in the source: art. VI, § 4(c) The limit was adopted by citizen initiative in 1992.12 Where in the source: art. VI, § 4, history note |
| Georgia | Not confirmed | Legislative term limits are left blank: we could not reach the Georgia Constitution on an official site. Georgia.gov links only to the Secretary of State's copy, which still answered with a bot check on 2026-10-27. |
| Hawaii | No limit13 | The constitution gives state representatives two-year terms and state senators four-year terms and sets no limit on how many terms a legislator may serve.13 Where in the source: art. III, § 4 |
| Idaho | No limit14 | State senators and representatives serve two-year terms, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.14 Where in the source: art. III, § 3 |
| Illinois | No limit15 | Representatives serve two-year terms and senators serve a mix of two- and four-year terms in each 10-year cycle, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms a legislator may serve.15 Where in the source: art. IV, § 2(a), (b) |
| Indiana | No limit16 | The Election Division's manual says members of the Indiana House and Senate are not subject to any term limits.16 Where in the source: Manual p. 43 (PDF p. 58), Qualifications for Assuming Office & Term of Office |
| Iowa | No limit17 | State representatives serve two-year terms and state senators four-year terms, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.17 Where in the source: art. III, §§ 3, 5 |
| Kansas | No limit18 | The Kansas Constitution sets two-year terms for state representatives and four-year terms for state senators and does not limit how many terms they may serve.18 Where in the source: art. 2, § 2 |
| Kentucky | No limit19 | The Kentucky Constitution sets four-year terms for state senators and two-year terms for state representatives and does not limit how many terms they may serve.19 Where in the source: Ky. Const. § 30 |
| Louisiana | Consecutive-term limit20 | Legislators serve four-year terms. A person who has served more than two and a half terms in three consecutive terms in one chamber may not be elected to that chamber for the next term.20 Where in the source: art. III, § 4(C), (E) The limit counts service in terms that began on or after January 8, 1996, and applies to each chamber separately, so a member can return after a break.20 Where in the source: art. III, § 4(E) |
| Maine | Consecutive-term limit21 | A person may serve no more than four consecutive terms as a state senator and no more than four consecutive terms as a state representative, counting terms that began on or after December 3, 1996.21 Where in the source: 21-A M.R.S. § 553(1)–(2) Legislators in both chambers serve two-year terms, so each limit is eight consecutive years, and a member may return after a break.21, |
| Maryland | No limit23 | Members of the General Assembly serve four-year terms, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.23 Where in the source: Md. Const. art. III, § 6 |
| Massachusetts | No limit24 | State senators and representatives are elected every two years, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.24 Where in the source: Amend. art. LXXXII |
| Michigan | Lifetime limit25 | Since a 2022 constitutional amendment, a person may not be elected to the state House or Senate for terms that add up to more than 12 years in total.25 Someone elected to the state Senate in 2022 may still seek that office as many times as the earlier rules allowed.25
|
| Minnesota | No limit26 | State representatives serve two-year terms and senators four-year terms, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.26 Where in the source: Art. IV, § 4 |
| Mississippi | No limit27 | State House and Senate members are elected every four years, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.27 Where in the source: Art. 4, §§ 34-35 |
| Missouri | Lifetime limit28 | No one may be elected to serve more than eight years in either chamber of the General Assembly or more than sixteen years in both combined.28 Where in the source: Art. III, § 8 Short partial terms filled after someone else's term (under one year in the House or two in the Senate) do not count.28 Where in the source: Art. III, § 8 |
| Montana | Consecutive-term limit29 | A voter-passed amendment from 1992 bars the state from putting a legislator on the ballot if, by the end of the current term, the person will have served 8 or more years in any 16-year period in the same chamber.29 Where in the source: § 8(1)(b), (c) The limit applies to each chamber on its own, so a person who reaches it in the House may run for the Senate, and may return to a chamber once the 16-year window allows.29 |
| Nebraska | Consecutive-term limit30 | Under a 2000 voter initiative, a state senator who has served two consecutive terms may not serve again for four years, no matter which district the person represents.30 Where in the source: art. III, § 12(1) Serving more than half of a term counts as a full term, and service before January 1, 2001 does not count.30 Where in the source: art. III, § 12(2)-(3)
|
| Nevada | Lifetime limit31 | Voter-approved amendments from 1994 and 1996 bar anyone from being elected or appointed to the Assembly, or to the Senate, after serving 12 years in that chamber, counting service from any district.31 Where in the source: art. 4, §§ 3(2), 4(2) The limit has no break period, so it is a lifetime cap for each chamber; a person may still serve up to 12 years in the other chamber.31 |
| New Hampshire | No limit32, | The qualifications for state senators and representatives, drawn from the state constitution, cover age, residence and district only, with no limit on the number of terms.32, |
| New Jersey | No limit34 | The constitution sets age, citizenship and residence requirements for state senators and Assembly members but no limit on terms; the only term limit it sets is two successive terms for governor.34 Where in the source: art. IV, § I, ¶ 2; art. V, § I, ¶ 5 |
| New Mexico | No limit35 | State senators serve four-year terms and state representatives two-year terms, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms a legislator may serve.35 Where in the source: Art. IV, § 4 By contrast, the constitution makes the governor and other statewide executive officers sit out a full term after serving two terms in the same office.35 Where in the source: Art. V, § 1 |
| New York | No limit36 | Article III, section 2 of the Constitution, as reprinted in a 2025 Assembly resolution that proposes to change it, sets two-year terms for senators and Assembly members with no limit on the number of terms.36 Where in the source: A.6527, § 1 The resolution would add a limit of six consecutive terms in each house; under its own terms it must also pass the next separately elected Legislature before it can go to voters.36 Where in the source: A.6527, §§ 1-2 |
| North Carolina | No limit37 | All 50 senators and 120 representatives are elected every two years, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.37 Where in the source: Art. II, §§ 2, 4, 8 By contrast, the governor and lieutenant governor may not be elected to more than two terms in a row.38 Where in the source: Art. III, § 2(2) |
| North Dakota | Lifetime limit39, | No one may serve more than eight years in total in the state House or more than eight years in total in the state Senate, and a person may not start a term that would push service past eight years in that chamber.39 Where in the source: Art. XV, § 1 Voters added the limits through Initiated Measure 1 at the 2022 general election; service before the limits took effect does not count.39, |
| Ohio | Consecutive-term limit41 | A state senator may serve no more than two four-year terms in a row, and a state representative no more than four two-year terms in a row.41 Where in the source: Art. II, § 2 Terms count as in a row unless separated by at least four years, so a legislator may return after a four-year break; only terms starting on or after January 1, 1993 count.41 Where in the source: Art. II, § 2 |
| Oklahoma | Lifetime limit42 | A legislator may serve no more than 12 years in the Legislature in total, counting years in the House and the Senate together, whether or not the years are consecutive.42 Time spent filling part of a term after a vacancy does not count toward the 12 years, but a member who has reached 12 years may not then fill a partial term.42 Voters adopted the limit as State Question 632 on September 18, 1990.42 Where in the source: Historical Data
|
| Oregon | No limit43 | Voters added legislative term limits in 1992 (Measure 3), but the Oregon Supreme Court declared them void in 2002 in Lehman v. Bradbury because they were not adopted in the way the constitution requires.43 Where in the source: Note under Art. II, § 18 Separately, a 2022 amendment (Measure 113) bars a legislator who misses 10 or more floor sessions without excuse from serving the term after their current one; it does not limit how many terms a member may serve.43 Where in the source: Art. IV, § 15 |
| Pennsylvania | No limit44 | State senators serve four-year terms and representatives two-year terms, and the constitution's article on the legislature sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.44 Where in the source: Art. II, § 3 |
| Rhode Island | No limit45 | Senators and representatives serve two-year terms with no limit on how many terms they may serve; the two-consecutive-term limit in the same section applies only to the governor and other general officers.45 Where in the source: Art. IV, § 1 |
| South Carolina | No limit46 | House members are elected every two years and senators for four-year terms, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms legislators may serve.46 Where in the source: Art. III, §§ 2, 6 |
| South Dakota | Consecutive-term limit47 | A legislator may serve no more than four consecutive two-year terms, or eight consecutive years, in the Senate, and the same limit applies in the House.47 Partial terms filled by appointment do not count toward the limit.47 |
| Tennessee | No limit48, | A 2025 House joint resolution, HJR 133, proposed adding a new paragraph after the existing language of Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution to bar House members and senators from serving more than 12 consecutive years.48 It failed for lack of a second in the House Public Service Subcommittee on March 25, 2026.49 None of the three constitutional amendments on the November 3, 2026 ballot concerns legislative terms.50 |
| Texas | No limit51 | State senators serve four-year terms and state representatives serve two-year terms, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.51 Where in the source: art. III, §§ 3, 4 |
| Utah | No limit52, | State representatives serve two-year terms and state senators serve four-year terms, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.52, |
| Vermont | No limit54 | State senators and representatives serve two-year terms, and the constitution sets no limit on how many terms they may serve.54 Where in the source: ch. II, § 46 |
| Virginia | No limit55, | The Constitution sets four-year terms for state senators and two-year terms for delegates and lists the qualifications for office, with no limit on how many terms a legislator may serve.55, |
| Washington | No limit58, | Initiative 573, approved by voters on November 3, 1992, set term limits for legislators in RCW 44.04.015; the Legislature repealed that section in 2013.58 The Constitution sets two-year terms for representatives and four-year terms for senators and requires only that legislators be citizens and qualified voters in their district.59 Where in the source: Art. II, §§ 5-7 |
| West Virginia | No limit60 | The Constitution sets four-year terms for senators and two-year terms for delegates and places no limit on how many terms they may serve.60 Where in the source: Art. VI, § 3 |
| Wisconsin | No limit61 | The Constitution sets two-year terms for Assembly members and four-year terms for senators, with no limit on the number of terms.61 Where in the source: Art. IV, §§ 4-5 |
| Wyoming | No limit62 | The state's ballot-access term limit statute now applies only to the governor (8 years in any 16); its other paragraphs were repealed in 2005 (Laws 2005, ch. 241), and no limit applies to state legislators.62 Where in the source: W.S. 22-5-103(a), 22-5-104 |
§2Changes pending
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Laws not yet in effect, open court cases and November 3 measures that would change a status above.
§3Notes on the research
The research notes that mention legislative term limits, in their own plain words: what couldn't be read or confirmed, and judgment calls a reviewer should look at.
Arizona1 note
- The 2026 statewide propositions in the official publicity pamphlet (Propositions 141, 142, 144 and 316-320, hosted by the Clean Elections Commission) include none on ranked-choice voting, primaries, redistricting, voter registration or legislative term limits, so pending is empty.
California1 note
- None of the November 3, 2026 statewide propositions (1-5 and 37-45) concerns ranked-choice voting, primaries, redistricting, voter registration or legislative term limits, based on the measure titles on the Secretary of State's qualified-measures list, so pending is empty.
Georgia1 note
- Legislative term limits are left blank: we could not reach the Georgia Constitution on an official site. Georgia.gov links only to the Secretary of State's copy, which still answered with a bot check on 2026-10-27.
Idaho1 note
- Idaho once had legislative term limits that were later repealed; we did not find an official page stating the repeal, so the term-limit detail rests only on the current constitution and the absence of a limit in the election code's ballot chapter.
Massachusetts1 note
- Voters approved a law in 1994 that would have kept long-serving legislators' names off the ballot (Secretary's results archive, 1994 Question 4). Secondary sources say the Supreme Judicial Court struck it down in 1997 (League of Women Voters v. Secretary of the Commonwealth, 425 Mass. 424). We found no official copy of that ruling, so the term-limit value rests only on the constitution.
Montana1 note
- We could not check the Secretary of State's 2026 ballot measure list (site blocked). Secondary sources list no November 3 measure on ranked-choice voting, primaries, redistricting, registration or legislative term limits, but this was not confirmed from an official list.
New Hampshire1 note
- We did not read the state constitution itself (blocked); the term limit value rests on the qualification statutes, which restate the constitutional qualifications.
New York1 note
- Term limits rest on the text of Article III, section 2 as reprinted in a 2025 Assembly resolution, read as a PDF from the Senate's Open Legislation service (legislation.nysenate.gov); the Senate's main site (nysenate.gov) still answered with a human-verification check to a single request on 2026-10-27, so we could not check the resolution's status or read the Constitution itself there.
South Dakota1 note
- We could not open the Secretary of State's 2026 ballot question pamphlet (the PDF address returned a 404 error), so we did not confirm the final 2026 measure list from it. The Legislature's bill action log (https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Bills/ActionLog/26319) shows that 2026 Senate Joint Resolution 501, which would have changed legislative term limits, was deferred to the 41st legislative day in a House committee on February 25, 2026, so it did not reach the ballot.
Tennessee1 note
- Term limits rest on a failed 2025 resolution that would have added a limit as new language after the existing text of Article II, Section 3, which shows the section has none; we still could not read the Constitution itself on an official site.
Utah1 note
- The Legislature's code and constitution pages (le.utah.gov/xcode) show their text only through a script that loads a separate version file. The research agent read those version files by plain URL; when an independent verifier tried the same kind of request, the session's access policy refused it, so the Utah statute and constitution citations should be confirmed in a browser. The verifier could not confirm the term-limits value this way; the official Senate and House pages list term lengths and qualifications with no limit.
Virginia1 note
- Virginia has no term-limit provision to cite; the term-limits value rests on the absence of any limit in the constitutional sections on legislative terms and qualifications.
Washington1 note
- The 1998 state Supreme Court ruling on Initiative 573 term limits (Gerberding v. Munro) was not confirmed from a court website; the term-limits value rests on the 2013 repeal shown on the Legislature's RCW dispositions page.
Wyoming1 note
- The repealed paragraphs of W.S. 22-5-103 are not printed, so the online code does not itself say they covered legislators; the 2004 Wyoming Supreme Court ruling on legislative term limits was not confirmed from a court website.