REFERENCE TITLE: legislature; terms; limits; lobbying

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HCR 2014

Introduced by

Representative Blackman

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Arizona; amending article IV, part 2, section 21, Constitution of Arizona; amending article XXII, section 19, CONSTITUTION of Arizona; relating to the legislature.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

1. Article IV, part 2, section 21, Constitution of Arizona, is proposed to be amended as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:

21. Term limits of members of state legislature

Section 21. A. The members of the first legislature shall hold office until the first Monday in January, 1913. Through the sixtieth legislature, the terms of office of the members of succeeding legislatures shall be the legislature are two years. No A state senator shall not serve more than four consecutive terms in that office. , nor shall any A state representative shall not serve more than four consecutive terms in that office. This limitation on the number of terms of consecutive service shall apply applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1993 and ending with the terms of office of the sixtieth legislature.  No Through the terms of office of the sixtieth legislature, a legislator, after serving the maximum number of terms, which shall include any part of a term served, may shall not serve in the same office until he the legislator has been out of office for no not less than one full term.

B. Beginning with the sixty-first LEGISLATURE in 2033:

1. The terms of office of the members of the legislature are four years.

2. A state REPRESENTATIVE shall not serve more than eight consecutive years in the house of representatives.  This LIMITATION to eight consecutive years of service in the house of REPRESENTATIVES applies to terms of office that begin on or after January 1, 2033.  After serving eight consecutive years in the house of representatives, the legislator must remain out of the house of representatives for at least one full four-year term before serving again in the house of representatives.

3. A state senator shall not serve more than eight consecutive years in the senate.  This LIMITATION to eight consecutive years of service in the senate applies to terms of office that begin on or after January 1, 2033.  After serving eight consecutive years in the senate, the legislator must remain out of the senate for at least one full four-year term before serving again in the senate.

4. Service in the house of representatives shall not be combined with service in the senate for the purposes of calculating the years of consecutive service in the house of REPRESENTATIVE or years of consecutive service in the senate.  A legislator who serves eight consecutive years in the house of representatives is eligible to serve immediately in the senate, and a legislator who serves eight consecutive years in the senate is eligible to serve immediately in the house of representatives.

5. A legislator's service of more than two years of a four-year term is deemed a full term for the PURPOSES of this subsection.  A legislator's service of two years or less is not deemed to be a full term but shall be included in CALCULATING the eight-year consecutive service limit.

6. This subsection applies to legislative service that results from election or APPOINTMENT to the legislature.

7. A legislator's term of office shall not be shortened or lengthened by the redistricting process. CONST

2. Article XXII, section 19, Constitution of Arizona, is proposed to be amended as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:

CONST19. Lobbying; former legislator postservice limitations

Section 19. A. The legislature shall enact laws and adopt rules prohibiting the practice of lobbying on the floor of either house of the legislature,  and further regulating the practice of lobbying.

B. A former legislator shall not do any of the following during the one-year period after the end of the term to which the legislator was elected or appointed:

1. Engage in any activity that would require the former legislator to register as a lobbyist as otherwise provided by law.

2. Lobby the members of the legislature or its officers or employees.

3. Direct, supervise or manage any lobbying activity that is intended to influence action by the legislature.

4. Use the former legislator's official position or NONPUBLIC INFORMATION that was received as a result of the former LEGISLATOR'S legislative service to influence action by the legislature.

C. This section does not prohibit a former LEGISLATOR from DOING any of the following during the one-year period after the end of the term to which the legislator was elected or appointed:

1. Provide CONSULTING, policy analysis, STRATEGIC advice or subject matter expertise that does not include lobbying.

2. Communicate with executive branch agencies, local governments or other nonlegislative entities as otherwise allowed by law.

3. Engage in uncompensated CIVIC, ACADEMIC or educational activities that are not intended to INFLUENCE legislative action.

D. This section is intended to supplement and not supplant any existing STATUTORY provisions regarding lobbying or ethics. CONST

3. Findings; purpose

A. The legislature finds and declares that:

1. Establishing four-year legislative terms promotes stability, deliberation and effective governance.

2. Limiting consecutive legislative service prevents entrenchment while preserving voter choice.

3. Requiring "cooling off" periods strengthens public trust by reducing the appearance of impropriety.

4. Allowing postservice consulting by former legislators while limiting legislative lobbying balances ethical safeguards with the freedom to pursue lawful employment.

B. This section is declaratory only and does not establish enforceable rights or obligations.

4. Severability

If a provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.

5. Applicability

This measure applies prospectively only, beginning with legislative terms of office that start on or after January 1, 2033.

3. The Secretary of State shall submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election as provided by article XXI, Constitution of Arizona.