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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the time that a |
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person may serve as a member of the Texas Legislature or as a |
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statewide elected officer in the executive branch to 12 consecutive |
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years. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 7a to read as follows: |
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Sec. 7a. (a) A person may not serve more than 12 |
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consecutive years as a member of the house of representatives. |
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(b) A person may not serve more than 12 consecutive years as |
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a member of the senate. |
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(c) A person is not eligible to be elected to office if the |
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person's service during the term of office would violate Subsection |
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(a) or (b) of this section. |
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(d) The limitations provided by Subsections (a) and (b) of |
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this section apply to consecutive service in the same elective |
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office. Service in more than one elective office is not added |
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together for purposes of Subsection (a) or (b) of this section. |
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(e) Nothing in this section prohibits a person from |
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continuing to serve in an office covered by this section after the |
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end of a term as a holdover under Section 17, Article XVI, of this |
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constitution until a successor is qualified. |
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(f) Legislative service before the legislature convenes in |
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regular session in 2025 is not counted in determining whether a |
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person is disqualified from office under this section. This |
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subsection expires January 1, 2038. |
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SECTION 2. Article IV, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 2a to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2a. (a) A person may not serve more than 12 |
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consecutive years in an elective office listed in Section 1 of this |
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article or any other state office elected by the voters at a |
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statewide election, other than a judicial office. |
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(b) A person is not eligible to be elected to office if the |
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person's service during the term of office would violate Subsection |
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(a) of this section. |
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(c) The limitation provided by Subsection (a) of this |
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section applies to consecutive service in the same elective office. |
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Service in more than one elective office is not added together for |
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purposes of Subsection (a) of this section. |
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(d) Nothing in this section prohibits a person from |
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continuing to serve in an office covered by this section after the |
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end of a term as a holdover under Section 17, Article XVI, of this |
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constitution until a successor is qualified. |
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(e) Service in office before January 19, 2027, does not |
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count for purposes of determining whether a person is disqualified |
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from office under this section. This subsection expires January 1, |
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2036. |
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SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023. |
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The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the |
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following proposition: "The constitutional amendment to limit the |
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time that a person may serve as a member of the Texas Legislature or |
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as a statewide elected officer in the executive branch to 12 |
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consecutive years." |