Establishes a term limit of twelve years for members serving in the general assembly.

RI Bill Summary: Term Limits for State Legislators

This bill would set a maximum limit on how long a person can serve in Rhode Island's state legislature — the General Assembly. Under this proposal, any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate could serve no more than 12 years total in their respective chamber. Once a legislator reaches that limit, they would no longer be eligible to run for that same seat.

The bill would directly affect current and future state legislators, as well as Rhode Island voters. Lawmakers who have already served many years could find themselves prohibited from seeking re-election once the 12-year cap is reached. Voters would no longer be able to re-elect a long-serving representative or senator once that person hits the limit, regardless of how satisfied constituents are with their performance.

Currently, the bill has been referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee, where it was recommended to be held for further study — meaning lawmakers are reviewing it but have not yet moved it forward for a full vote. This is a common step in the legislative process and does not necessarily mean the bill is dead.

Term limit proposals like this one are generally aimed at encouraging fresh perspectives in government and preventing any individual from holding power for an extended period. Whether the bill advances further in the legislature remains to be seen.