Peoria Standard

Bipartisan legislation to make it harder for a legislator to serve decades in a House or Senate leadership role has been gaining sponsor support in the upper chamber after representatives approved the policy. 

"It amazes me that the General Assembly didn't pass legislation like this a long time ago," Rep. Mark Luft (R-Pekin) said in an April 22 statement issued the same day House Bill 642 was OK'd. "When I talk to constituents, one thing they overwhelmingly tell me they support is term limits. I was happy to sign on to this bipartisan measure as a co-sponsor."

The key element of the legislation is that it prevents a lawmaker from serving more than 10 consecutive years in a General Assembly leadership role. If approved in the Senate and signed by the governor, the policy would start in, 2023. 

"While this is a good first step, we have to remember that it is just that — a first step," Luft said. "I hope that in the future, we can work together in a bipartisan way to implement more comprehensive term limits."

H.B. 642 is unique for making it out of committee, despite years of trying. The bill made it out of the House Rules and Executive committees, where it stayed for almost three months before it passed that chamber on April 22 with 115 yeas, no nays and one present, or abstention.

The bill arrived in the Senate the following day and quickly picked up a sponsor, Sen. Emil Jones III (D-Chicago). Senate Bill 642 was referred to the Senate Assignments Committee, where it remains.