Bill > HB495

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to establish legislative term limits in Hawaii, specifically limiting members of the state legislature to a maximum of sixteen years of service. The proposed amendment would apply to both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the sixteen-year limit counting cumulative years served in either or both chambers. The legislature's findings indicate that at least fifteen other states have similar term limits, with eight states specifically using a sixteen-year limit (eight years in each chamber). The bill notes that these term limits are designed to maintain a balance of power between the legislative and executive branches, given the governor's existing eight-year term limit and extensive administrative powers. If approved, the amendment would allow legislators to serve a maximum of sixteen years total, regardless of whether those years are spent entirely in one chamber or split between the House and Senate. The proposed change would be put to voters through a ballot measure asking if they support limiting legislative service to sixteen years, and if passed, would take effect upon meeting the state constitutional requirements for amendments.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=495&year=2026