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Senate committee advances constitutional amendment to limit terms for state constitutional officers
Summary
A West Virginia Senate committee voted to report Senate Joint Resolution 13 to the full Senate with a recommendation for adoption. The measure would limit the state's five constitutional officers to three consecutive terms beginning Jan. 1, 2029; an amendment to cut the limit to two terms failed on a 5–11 division vote.
A Senate committee on [date not specified in transcript] voted to report Senate Joint Resolution 13 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it be adopted and a second reference to the Committee on Finance.
The resolution would add language to the state Constitution limiting the Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General and Commissioner of Agriculture to three consecutive terms, with terms counted beginning 01/01/2029; partial terms served after that date would count toward the limit.
Treasurer Larry Peck, appearing before the committee, said the proposal seeks to prevent long incumbencies and to bring new perspectives to office. “I have a strong belief that when you have new officers, and you have new people coming in the office, they come in with new energy, new perspectives, and new ideas,” Peck said. He told senators he had discussed the proposal with other members of the Board of Public Works and believed they supported the measure.
Senators debated whether to mirror the governor’s two-term limit. A motion by the senator from Marion to amend the resolution to a two-term limit was debated and put to a roll-call-style division: 5 in favor, 11 opposed. The amendment failed.
Supporters of the three-term language said it balances access to office with turnover; opponents argued two terms would match the governor and reduce the chance of entrenched incumbency. Senators also raised practical questions about retirement eligibility and geographic representation for officers who relocate to Charleston to serve.
After debate the committee majority approved a motion to report SJR 13 to the full Senate with recommendation for adoption and refer it to the Finance Committee for a second reference.
The measure will next be considered by the full Senate and Congressionally required ballot language and additional drafting could be required before the measure would appear to voters.
Votes at a glance • Amendment (change 3 consecutive terms → 2 consecutive terms): division vote, 5 in favor, 11 opposed (amendment failed). • Motion to report SJR 13 to the full Senate with recommendation for adoption (with second reference to Finance): approved by voice vote; chair declared the ayes carried.
Context: West Virginia’s governor currently faces a two-term limit; SJR 13 would place a three-term consecutive limit on other statewide constitutional officers, effective for terms beginning Jan. 1, 2029.
