West Virginia Senate Bill SJR4

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

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

Caption

State Senate and House of Delegates Term Limits Amendment

Summary

Senate Joint Resolution 4 proposes a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on members of the West Virginia Legislature. Under the proposed change, a person could serve no more than three consecutive terms in the State Senate or six consecutive terms in the House of Delegates. The resolution also specifies that only terms beginning after ratification would count toward the limit, while partial terms served after ratification would count as a term. If approved by the Legislature and ratified by voters at the 2026 general election, the amendment would change Article VI, section 3 of the state constitution and would be designated as Amendment 1, the "State Senate and House of Delegates Term Limits Amendment." The measure is framed as a voter-submitted constitutional amendment rather than a statutory change, so it would directly alter the eligibility rules for future legislative service rather than ordinary state law.

Impact

The bill would amend the West Virginia Constitution to create enforceable term limits for state legislators, affecting eligibility for future service in both chambers. It would not change the length of legislative terms, but it would bar senators and delegates from continuing in office after reaching the consecutive-term cap, with pre-ratification service excluded from the calculation. Because it is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment, its practical effect depends on legislative approval and subsequent voter ratification at the 2026 general election.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be presented as a reform-oriented proposal aimed at limiting long-term incumbency in the Legislature. The caption and purpose statement suggest a straightforward, policy-driven effort to impose term limits, and there is no available transcript evidence of opposition or support from committee discussion. Overall sentiment cannot be measured from recorded proceedings, but the resolution itself is framed positively as a structural accountability measure.

Contention

The main point of contention inherent in the proposal is the use of constitutional term limits for elected legislators, which can raise competing concerns about voter choice, institutional experience, and turnover in representation. Supporters would likely view the amendment as a way to encourage fresh perspectives and reduce entrenchment, while opponents may argue it restricts the electorate’s ability to reelect experienced lawmakers and could weaken legislative expertise. No specific objections or endorsements are documented in the provided committee materials or vote history.