What's happening
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New York State Senate and Assembly terms to four years, except following a census when terms remain two years.
Why it matters
Longer legislative terms could promote greater policy stability. , allowing lawmakers more uninterrupted time to work on complex issues and reducing the frequency of election-driven decision-making.
Reducing the number of elections might decrease campaign costs and political fatigue. , both for legislators and voters, potentially leading to more thoughtful governance and less focus on continual campaigning.
Retaining two-year terms immediately after the census ensures quicker realignment of legislative districts to reflect population changes. , which helps maintain fair representation as demographics shift.
Longer terms could make it harder for voters to hold legislators accountable in the short term. , increasing the importance of each election and potentially reducing opportunities for electoral feedback and course correction.
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Who cares
State senators and Assembly members
The proposed constitutional amendment would give members elected in 2019 and later four-year terms, except for two-year terms beginning immediately after a decennial census year, and would apply only to terms beginning after adoption.
Candidates for the state Legislature
Longer terms would generally space opportunities to contest legislative seats four years apart rather than two.
Voters in state legislative elections
Voters would generally elect senators and Assembly members for four years instead of two, with two-year terms retained immediately after decennial census years.
Headline styles
Legislative Terms to Four Years
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
- Recommitted to rules
- Ordered to third reading cal.1399
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Longer Terms for Legislators
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Edward Braunstein
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1558
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sens. AVELLA, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to increasing the terms of office of members of the legislature to four years
Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 2 of article 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
§ 2. The senate shall consist of fifty members, except as hereinafter provided. The senators [elected in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five shall hold their offices for three years, and their successors] shall be [chosen] elected for terms of two years; provided, that senators elected in the year two thousand nineteen and in subsequent years thereafter shall hold their offices for four years; provided, further, that in all legislative terms that commence immediately following a decennial census year, the term shall be two years. The assembly shall consist of one hundred and fifty members. The assembly members [elected in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirtyeight, and their successors,] shall be [chosen] elected for terms of two years; provided, that assembly members elected in the year two thousand nineteen and in subsequent years thereafter shall hold their offices for four years; provided, further, that in all legislative terms that commence immediately following a decennial census year, the term shall be two years.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the provisions of the foregoing amendments shall apply only to terms of office commencing after such amendments shall have been adopted pursuant to section 1 of article 19 of the constitution.
§ 3. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendments be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of the members of the assembly, and, in
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89010-01-7
S. 1558 2
conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for three months previous to the time of such election.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to increasing the terms of office of members of the legislature to four years
Purpose or general idea of bill
To create a legislative term of 4 years, provided that in all legislative terms that commence immediately following a decennial census year, the term shall be two years.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 2 of article 3 of the constitution to increase the current legislative term from 2 years to four years commencing in 2019.
Justification
The purpose of this bill is to lessen the difficulties placed on the legislative process by the electoral pressures exerted by the existing two-year legislative terms. The current two-year terms were introduced at a time when people interested in serving in the legislature were not required to marshal anywhere near the amount of resources required today to run for a legislative office. They were also instituted when the role of government in society was not nearly as extensive as it is today.
By instituting four-year terms, this bill would create the space wherein the inherent tension created by needing to balance legislative imperatives with electoral imperatives would lessen significantly. It would thereby allow the legislature to deal with each issue before it in a more deliberate and measured manner. In addition, such a change will save the tax payers significant sums as a result of not having to fund an election every two years for the state legislature.
It should be noted that provisions have been made in the legislation to deal with the issue of decennial redistricting which follows the decennial census. The legislation specifically provides for a four-year legislative term, except that in all legislative terms that commence immediately following a decennial census year the term will be shortened to two years. This provision addresses those situations where an elected official's term could be interrupted with district changes in the midst of a term as a result of redistricting.
Prior legislative history
2011: S.3299 2012: 5.3299 2013: 5.725 (Avella) 2014: S.725(Avella)/A.8577-A (Braunstein)- Passed Senate in 2014 2015-16: S.894(Avella)/ A.8577-A (Braunstein)- - Passed Senate
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None
Effective date
These amendments shall apply only to terms of office commencing after such amendments shall have been adopted pursuant to section 1 of article 19 of the constitution. Such amendments will be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of the members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for three months previous to the time of such election.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.