What's happening
This bill proposes term limits for New York's governor (two terms), comptroller, attorney general (two terms), and legislators (six terms).
Why it matters
Would prevent long-term political entrenchment. By capping the number of terms for governors, comptrollers, attorney generals, and legislators, the bill aims to reduce the risk of individuals consolidating political power over decades, potentially promoting political diversity and new perspectives in state government.
Includes “grandfather” clauses for current officeholders. The proposed term limits would not apply retroactively to those already in office when the amendment takes effect, meaning current incumbents could still serve out their existing terms and, depending on timing, potentially additional terms under the new rules.
Affects succession and continuity of government. For the governor, if someone in the line of succession has already reached the term limit, they would be skipped over, which could alter typical expectations about who would assume office in the event of a vacancy.
Encourages legislative turnover. Limiting legislators to six two-year terms (twelve years total, regardless of whether time is split between the Senate and Assembly) could lead to more frequent turnover, potentially increasing opportunities for new candidates but also resulting in the loss of experienced lawmakers and institutional knowledge.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Terms for State Officials
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
9 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
- 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.
Limit Terms for State Leaders
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Joseph A. Griffo
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1478
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GIGLIO, MONTESANO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 1 of article 4 of the constitution, in relation to term limits for the office of governor; proposing an amendment to section 1 of article 5 of the constitution, in relation to term limits for the offices of comptroller and attorney-general; and proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to limiting the terms of office as a member of the legislature any person may serve
Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article 4 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in the governor, who shall hold office for four years; the lieutenant-governor shall be chosen at the same time, and for the same term. The governor and lieutenant-governor shall be chosen at the general election held in the year nineteen hundred thirty-eight, and each fourth year thereafter. They shall be chosen jointly, by the casting by each voter of a single vote applicable to both offices, and the legislature by law shall provide for making such choice in such manner. The respective persons having the highest number of votes cast jointly for them for governor and lieutenant-governor respectively shall be elected. No person shall be elected to the office of the governor more than twice, and no person who has held the office of governor or acted as governor for more than two years of a term to which another person was elected governor shall be elected more than once. The limitation on the terms of office that any person can be elected to the office of governor shall not apply to any person holding the office of governor on the effective date of this sentence. Provided, further, that a person who has been twice elected to the office of governor and who is in the line of succession to such office, pursuant to section six of this article, shall be passed over in the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89008-01-9
A. 1478 2
line of succession and the next person in the line of succession shall act as governor.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article 5 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
Section 1. The comptroller and attorney-general shall be chosen at the same general election as the governor and hold office for the same term, and shall possess the qualifications provided in section 2 of article IV. The legislature shall provide for filling vacancies in the office of comptroller and of attorney-general. No election of a comptroller or an attorney-general shall be had except at the time of electing a governor. No person shall be elected to the office of comptroller or attorney-general who has previously been elected to such office more than once. The limitation the terms of office that any person can be elected to the office of comptroller or attorney-general shall not apply to any person holding the office of comptroller or attorney-general on the effective date of this sentence. The comptroller shall be required: (1) to audit all vouchers before payment and all official accounts; (2) to audit the accrual and collection of all revenues and receipts; and (3) to prescribe such methods of accounting as are necessary for the performance of the foregoing duties. The payment of any money of the state, or of any money under its control, or the refund of any money paid to the state, except upon audit by the comptroller, shall be void, and may be restrained upon the suit of any taxpayer with the consent of the supreme court in appellate division on notice to the attorney-general. In such respect the legislature shall define the powers and duties and may also assign to him or her: (1) supervision of the accounts of any political subdivision of the state; and (2) powers and duties pertaining to or connected with the assessment and taxation of real estate, including determination of ratios which the assessed valuation of taxable real property bears to the full valuation thereof, but not including any of those powers and duties reserved to officers of a county, city, town or village by virtue of [sections seven and eight] section one of article nine and section thirteen of article thirteen of this constitution. The legislature shall assign to him or her no administrative duties, excepting such as may be incidental to the performance of these functions, any other provision of this constitution to the contrary notwithstanding.
§ 3. Resolved (if the Senate 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 for two years. The assembly shall consist of one hundred and fifty members. The assembly members elected in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight, and their successors, shall be chosen for two years.
No person shall serve as a member of the legislature for more than six two year terms, whether such service is as a senator, assembly member, or terms as a senator and an assembly member; provided that any partial term of office held as a member of the legislature prior to the election to a two year term shall not be used to calculate any term limitation imposed pursuant to this paragraph.
§ 4. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.