HR258: HR258 Congress; call convention to set term limits on members elected to the House of Representatives; apply

This resolution does not change Georgia law. Instead, it formally asks the United States Congress to call a convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, the process that lets states trigger amendment proposals once two-thirds of states apply on the same topic. Georgia's application would be limited to one purpose: proposing a constitutional amendment that sets term limits for members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The resolution states that this application should be combined with similar applications from other states on the same subject, but not with applications on any other topic, so that the two-thirds threshold needed to force a convention can be reached. It also asks Congress to impose a serious criminal penalty on anyone who tries to expand the convention beyond that single topic, and it says the application stays in effect continuously until enough states join it. Copies would be sent to congressional and state legislative leaders.

• Applies to the U.S. Congress to call an Article V convention limited solely to proposing a constitutional amendment on congressional term limits.
• Directs that Georgia's application be aggregated only with other states' applications on the identical term-limits subject, not with unrelated topics.
• Asks Congress to enact a severe criminal penalty for anyone who violates the limited scope of the convention call.
• Declares the application a continuing one that remains active until two-thirds of state legislatures have made the same application.
• Directs the Speaker of the House to send copies of the resolution to federal officials, Georgia lawmakers, and other states' legislative leaders.

This resolution primarily affects members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, since it seeks to limit how many terms they may serve. It also involves the Georgia General Assembly, the U.S. Congress, and other state legislatures whose cooperation is requested.

If enough states pass matching applications, Congress could be compelled to call a constitutional convention focused on congressional term limits, a step that has never happened under Article V. The resolution itself makes no immediate legal change but adds Georgia's voice to a multi-state effort.

• The resolving clause applies to Congress to call a convention limited to proposing an amendment setting term limits for U.S. House and Senate members.
• A further resolution specifies the application covers the same subject as other states' term-limit applications and will be aggregated only with those, not other topics.
• Another clause asks Congress to enact a severe criminal penalty for violating the convention's limited scope.
• The application is declared continuing, remaining in effect until two-thirds of state legislatures submit matching applications.
• The Speaker of the House is directed to distribute copies to U.S. Senate and House leadership, Georgia lawmakers, and other states' legislatures.

1. 2025-02-19House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-18House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-13House Hopper (House)

• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)Primary sponsor
• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)
• David Clark (R, HD-100)
• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)

• term limits
• constitutional convention
• Article V
• Congress
• election rules