Senate hears bill to modify General Assembly members term limits

By Sam Jackson, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — A bill increasing term limits for lawmakers to 16 years was heard by the Senate Committee for Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics on Wednesday.
Senate Joint Resolution 97, sponsored by Sen. Joe Nicola, R-Grain Valley, would double the time members could spend in one chamber, which is currently capped at eight years in both the House and Senate.
Nicola said the past 15 months in his role, he has seen “the negative consequences of term limits.” He said his bill would allow the state to benefit from experienced legislators while still preserving clear limits.
“The body doesn’t have the historical experience that some of our lobbyists and bureaucrats have, and that’s a huge problem, and far too long, it puts them in the driver’s seat, versus the representatives of the people,” Nicola said.
Members are currently allowed to serve for eight years in each chamber, but this resolution would allow a member to serve up to 16 years total in the General Assembly in either the House, Senate or any combination of time in both chambers.
“They could spend four years in the House, 12 in the Senate; 12 in the House, four in the Senate; eight in the House, and eight in the Senate, as it is currently, or all 16 years in either chamber,” Nicola said.
He said this bill will work to support term limits and hold politicians accountable, but not punish them for their experience.
“When members are forced out too quickly, the people’s branch loses valuable knowledge and experience,” Nicola said. “And when that happens, influence tends to shift away from the elective lawmakers and towards staff, lobbyists, and bureaucratic systems that are not directly accountable to the voters.”
If voters approve this bill, members of the General Assembly will not be allowed to serve more than 16 years total in both houses starting Dec. 3.