Summary and Citations of State Term Limit Laws

Updated May 5, 2004

15 states currently limit the terms of state lawmakers. These limits are summarized below. The constitutional (C) or statutory (S) locations of these limits are parenthetically cited. Click linked citations and full text will appear. Note that state Supreme Courts have voided term limit provisions in Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. The Idaho legislature repealed term limits in 2002, and the Utah legislature repealed term limits in 2003. These six states remain on this list, even though they no longer have term limits.

Arizona: Limits state lawmakers to four consecutive two-year terms and members of the executive branch to two consecutive four-year terms. (C - Article IV, Part 2, Section 21)

Arkansas: Restricts statewide elected officials to two four-year terms, state representatives to three two-year terms and state senators to two four-year terms. (C - Amendment 73)

California: Limits state lawmakers to three two-year terms in the Assembly and two four-year terms in the Senate. Constitutional officers are limited to two four-year terms. (C - Article IV, Section 2)

Colorado: Limits state lawmakers to four consecutive two-year terms in the House and two consecutive four-year terms in the Senate. (C - Article V, Section 3)

Florida: Restricts an individual from running for re-election to the Legislature, executive branch or U.S. Congress if by the end of their current term they have served for eight consecutive years. (C - Article VI, Section 4)

Idaho: State legislators and statewide-elected officials are limited to eight years in a 15 year period. (S - ID ST 34-907) Note: The Idaho Legislature repealed term limits in February 2002.

Louisiana: Limits members of the House and Senate to three consecutive four-year terms. (C - Article III, Section 4-E)

Maine: Restricts state legislators and constitutional officers to four consecutive two-year terms in each body. The state auditor is limited to two consecutive four-year terms. Restrictions on state lawmakers become effective with the 1996 elections and apply to individuals currently holding office. Applies to time served by senators and representatives beginning January 1, 1995. (S - ME ST T. 21-A, Section 553)

Massachusetts: Limits governor, lt. governor, secretary, treasurer, auditor or attorney general to two consecutive terms within an 11-year period. Limits state senators and representatives to four consecutive terms in nine years. (S - MGLA Chapter 53, Section 48) Note: A 1997 decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court invalidated that state's term limit statute.

Michigan: Limits state representatives to three terms, state senators and members of the executive branch may serve only two terms. (C - Article IV, Section 54)

Missouri: Restricts state lawmakers to eight years in the same house and 16 years total of legislative service. (C - Article 3, Section 8)

Montana: Restricts state senators, state representatives and state officials to eight years in a 16-year period. (C - Article IV, Section 8)

Nebraska: Limits state legislators to two consecutive terms in office (C - Article III, Section 12).

Nevada: Limits members of the Assembly to serving 12 years or six terms and members of the Senate to three terms or 12 years. Secretary of state, state treasurer, state comptroller and attorney general are limited to eight years or two terms. Governor is already limited to two consecutive terms. (C - Article 4, Sections 3 and 4; Article 5, Section 19; Article 15, Section 3)

Ohio: Limits state senators to two consecutive terms and state representatives to four consecutive terms. Limits members of the executive branch to two consecutive terms. Terms are considered consecutive unless there is a break of four years. (C - Article II, Section 2)

Oklahoma: Restricts state lawmakers to 12 years of legislative service. (C - Article 5, Section 17-A)

Oregon: Holds state lawmakers to six years in the House and eight years in the Senate or no more than 12 years of legislative service. Statewide officeholders are limited to eight years. (C - Article II, Section 19) Note: In January 2002, the Oregon Supreme Court invalidated legislative term limits.

South Dakota: Limits state lawmakers to four consecutive two-year terms in each house and statewide officers to two consecutive terms. (C - Article III, Section 6)

Utah: Prohibits state officers and members of the House and Senate from placing their names on the ballot if they have served more than 12 consecutive years in office. (S - UCA 20A-10-201) Note: The Utah Legislature repealed the term limits law in March 2003.

Washington: Limits state senators to eight out of 14 years, representatives to six out of 12 years, and the governor and lt. governor to eight out of 14 years. Terms served before November 1992 will not count toward limits. (S - RC WA Section 44.04.015) Note: Washington Supreme Court in January 1998 voided the provisions.

Wyoming: Limits state senators to three terms in any 24-year period, representatives to six terms in any 24-year period, and constitutional officers to two terms in any 16-year period. (S - WSA Section 22-5-103) Note: In May 2004, the Wyoming Supreme Court invalidated legislative term limits.

Note: The foregoing descriptions do not include the term limits approved by some of these and other states on US Senators and US Representatives which were ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court in May of 1995 in the Thornton decision.

For More Information on Term Limits

Jennie Drage Bowser tracks term limits, and may be reached at 303-364-7700 or elections-info@ncsl.org.