The Effect of Term Limits in the 2004 Elections

Updated October 26, 2004

Term limits will prevent a total of 257 legislators in 12 states from running for re-election in the 2004 elections. The hardest-hit chambers will be the Arkansas House (losing 36% of its membership), the Michigan House (losing 34% of its membership), the Missouri Senate (losing 29% of its membership), and the Oklahoma House (losing 28% of its membership) and Senate (losing 29% of its membership).

Legislators Termed Out in 2004
State	House Chamber	Senate Chamber
Arizona	5 of 60 members (8%)	2 of 30 members (7%)
Arkansas	36 of 100 members (36%)	0 of 35 members (0%)
California	18 of 80 members (23%)	8(a) of 40 members (20%)
Colorado	7(c) of 65 members (12%)	5 of 35 members (14%)
Florida	7 of 120 members (6%)	0 of 40 members (0%)
Maine	21 of 151 members (14%)	7 of 35 members (20%)
Michigan	37 of 110 members (34%)	(b)
Missouri	15 of 163 members (9%)	10 of 34 members (29%)
Montana	6 of 100 members (6%)	10 of 50 members (20%)
Ohio	7(d) of 99 members (8%)	5(d) of 33 members (21%)
Oklahoma	28 of 101 members (28%)	13 of 48 members (27%)
South Dakota	3 of 70 members (4%)	7 of 35 members (20%)
Total by Chamber	190 House Members	67 Senate Members
COMBINED TOTAL	257 State Legislators

(a) A ninth senator would have been termed out in 2004, but died in office in May 2004.
(b) The Michigan Senate does not have elections in 2004.
(c) An eighth member would have been termed out, but resigned to take an appointment to the public utilites commission.
(d) In Ohio, two representatives and one senator who otherwise would have been termed out resigned prior to the end of their terms. They are not included in these numbers.

Leaders and Committee Chairs Termed Out

Among the 257 legislators termed out this year are 32 veteran leaders and 122 chairs of standing committees.

Leaders and Committee Chairs Termed Out in 2004
State	Leaders	Committee Chairs
Arizona	Speaker of the House House Minority Leader Senate Minority Leader	House Public Institutions & Counties House Education House Rules
Arkansas	Speaker of the House House Majority Leader House Minority Leader	House Education House Rules House City, County & Local Affairs House Insurance & Commerce House Revenue & Taxation House Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development House State Agencies & Governmental Affairs House Judiciary House Legislative & Military Affairs House Co-Chairs of the following joint committees: Health Insurance & Prescription Drugs Public Retirement & Social Security Programs Energy Legislative Council Budget Economic and Tax Policy
California	House Republican Leader Senate President Pro Tem Senate Minority Leader	Senate Appropriations Senate Education Senate Environmental Quality Senate Public Safety Senate Rules House Banking & Finance House Budget House Judiciary House Natural Resources House Housing & Community Development House Elections, Redistricting & Constitutional Amendments House Business & Professions
Colorado	Speaker of the House Senate President Senate President Pro Tem	Senate Services Senate State Veterans of Military Affairs Senate Education House Transportation and Energy House State, Veterans and Military Affairs House Executive Committee of the Legislative Council House Legislative Council House Business Affairs and Labor House Appropriations House Legislative Audit House Joint Budget
Florida	Speaker of the House House Minority Leader	House Joint Legislative Committee on Everglades Oversight House Natural Resources
Maine	Senate President Senate Majority Leader Speaker of the House House Minority Leader	Senate Appropriations & Financial Affairs Senate Legislative Council Senate Insurance & Financial Services Senate Judiciary Committee Senate Conduct & Ethics House Marine Resources House Legal &Veterans Affairs House Inland Fisheries & Wildlife House Health & Human Services House Conservation & Forestry House Insurance & Financial Services House Health Care Reform House Transportation
Michigan	Speaker of the House House Majority Floor Leader	House Commerce House Energy & Transportation House Transportation House Health Policy House Family & Children Services House Judiciary House Television & Oversight House Land Use & Environment House Insurance House Government Operations House Regulatory Reform House Appropriations House Conservation & Outdoor Recreation House Higher Education House Senior Health Security & Retirement
Missouri	Senate President Pro Tem Senate Minority Floor Leader	House Conservation & Natural Resources House Transportation & Motor Vehicles House Administration & Accounts House Health Care Policy House Appropriations-Health, Mental Health & Social Services Joint Capital Improvements & Leases Oversight Joint Transportation Oversight Senate Financial & Governmental Organization, Veterans’ Affairs & Elections Senate Administration Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Senate Economic Development, Tourism & Local Government Senate Appropriations
Montana	Speaker of the House Senate President Pro Tem Senate Majority Leader	House Legislative Admin. House Federal Relations, Energy & Telecomm. House Taxation Senate Taxation Senate Fish & Game Senate Education & Cultural Resources Senate Rules Senate Business & Labor
Ohio	Speaker of the House House Majority Floor Leader Senate President Senate Minority Leader	House Rules House Public Utilities Senate Public Utilities Senate Education Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Senate Rules
Oklahoma	Speaker of the House House Majority Floor Leader	House Insurance House Retirement Laws House Corrections House Environment & Natural Resources House Appropriations & Budget House Public Safety & Homeland Security House Rules House Wildlife House Public Health House County & Municipal Government House Transportation Senate Business & Labor Senate Agriculture & Rural Development Senate Energy , Environment & Communications Senate Education Senate Judiciary
South Dakota	House Majority Leader	Senate Health & Human Services Senate Retirement Laws Senate Local Government Senate Government Operations & Audit Senate Transportation House Commerce House State Affairs
TOTAL	32 Leaders	122 Committee Chairs

Visit NCSL’s main term limits page.

For more information on term limits, contact Jennie Drage Bowser in NCSL’s Denver office at elections-info@ncsl.org.