Projo Politics Blog

Rep. Stephen R. Ucci, D-Johnston, has proposed that General Assembly members be limited to three terms and that the length of a legislative term be doubled, to four years.

“Longer, four-year terms for lawmakers would result in more stability in the legislature and ultimately more voter trust and confidence in the General Assembly,” Ucci says. “Most legislators cannot accomplish everything they’d like to for their communities in a two-year term.”

Increasing terms to four years would allow them to spend less time campaigning and fundraising and more time working for constituents, he says.

His legislation would limit any senator or representative who has served more than four years in the chamber as of Dec. 31, 2010, to serve two additional four-year terms. Ucci, a lawmaker since 2004, would qualify for the additional time.

The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 15 states have term limits for legislators.

Ucci’s bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. No hearing has yet been scheduled.

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