Committee hears testimony on Article V measures: delegate controls bill and joint resolution to seek limited convention

Columbus — The House Government Oversight Committee took extended testimony on two related measures concerning Article V of the U.S. Constitution: House Bill 67, which would establish procedures for selecting, instructing and disciplining state delegates to any Article V convention, and House Joint Resolution 2, an application that would ask the states to call a limited convention on fiscal restraints, limits on federal power and term limits.

Supporters said the bills provide guardrails and a process for state participation in an amendments convention. Steve Jones, who testified as a petitioner and supporter, described HB 67 as providing “procedures regarding the selection, the instruction, the oversight of commissioners to any Article 5 amending proposing convention.” Jones recommended the committee advance the measure so Ohio would have a process in place if a convention is called.

Michael Farris, a constitutional lawyer and co-founder of the Convention of States Project, provided detailed constitutional and historical…