West Virginia House Bill HJR13

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/26
• Refer: 1/14/26

Caption

Resolution for Term Limits for Senators and Delegates in the West Virginia Legislature

Summary

House Joint Resolution 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on members of the West Virginia Legislature. Specifically, it would limit senators and delegates to 12 consecutive years of service in the same chamber, which the resolution explains as six elections in the House of Delegates or three elections in the Senate. After reaching that limit, a legislator would be ineligible to run again for that same chamber until one full election cycle has passed, though they could seek election to the other chamber or to other elected offices. The resolution also sets out how the limit would be calculated. Time toward the 12-year cap would begin on January 1, 2030, and service before that date would not count. A partial term served after that date would count toward the limit, and any break in service during the 12-year period would reset the clock. If approved by the Legislature, the amendment would be submitted to voters at the next general election in 2026 and would amend Article VI, Section 3 of the state constitution.

Impact

If adopted, HJR13 would change the West Virginia Constitution and directly affect eligibility for election to the House of Delegates and Senate. It would create a new constitutional restriction on consecutive service in each chamber, alter candidate eligibility rules, and potentially open seats to more frequent turnover. The measure would not affect eligibility for other elected offices outside the chamber in which the limit was reached, and it would not count legislative service before January 1, 2030, toward the cap.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of committee testimony or recorded votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears procedural and reform-oriented rather than overtly contentious in the available record. The resolution is framed as a straightforward constitutional amendment to establish legislative term limits, suggesting support from sponsors for limiting long-term incumbency. No committee debate, amendments, or vote history are provided to indicate broader support or opposition.

Contention

The main points of contention likely center on the policy choice to impose term limits at all, the length of the limit, and the decision to apply it only after January 1, 2030. Supporters would likely view the amendment as a way to encourage turnover and limit entrenched incumbency, while opponents may argue it restricts voter choice and removes experienced legislators. The distinction between chambers—allowing a term-limited legislator to run for the other chamber—may also be debated as either a reasonable compromise or a loophole that weakens the limit.