For immediate release
March 4, 2025
Contact: Les Chamblee, U.S. Term Limits
lchamblee@termlimits.org
VICTORY: South Dakota Legislature Passes Term Limits on Congress Resolution
Pierre, SD – Today, the South Dakota Senate passed HJR5002, a resolution applying for a national convention to propose term limits on Congress with a bipartisan vote of 25 yeas to 10 nays. The statewide effort was led by prime senate sponsor, Senator Casey Crabtree and 13 state senators who cosponsored the resolution. Along with prime house sponsor Rep. Taylor Rae Rehfeldt and 21 house cosponsors.
Senator Crabtree commented on the victory saying, “I’m thrilled to see the South Dakota Legislature pass HJR5002, making us the next state to push for a constitutional amendment on congressional term limits. This is a common sense, American idea, and it’s always personally exciting to be a part of an effort to help South Dakotans have their voices heard. Term limits are going to bring new ideas to Congress. America wins when it embraces new, fresh ideas.”
The application is officially heading to Congress to be counted towards the 34 state applications required to call a term limits convention. This success is part of a national, nonpartisan movement led by U.S. Term Limits to fight careerism in Washington, D.C.
South Dakota State Chair for U.S. Term Limits, Erin Tobin says, “I am thrilled that South Dakota has joined the growing number of states calling for congressional term limits. This is a major milestone in restoring our founding fathers’ vision of a citizen legislature. I hope that other states will follow South Dakota’s lead in the next few months. I have been honored to be a part of this effort.”
Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides states the authority to impose term limits on Congress without congressional approval. For the term limits amendment convention to be called, at total of 34 states must pass similar resolutions. Once a term limits amendment is proposed, it must be ratified by 38 states for it to be added to the U.S. Constitution. This process allows the states to completely bypass Congress.
The President of U.S. Term Limits, Philip Blumel said “Eighty-seven percent of Americans support term limits on Congress, including huge majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents. This is a rare, truly nonpartisan issue with national appeal.”
HJR5002 was supported by both Democrats and Republicans and passed through both chambers of the South Dakota state legislature. While the state senate passed the resolution today, the state house passed it earlier in this session and, therefore, it was ordered enrolled.
“All of the sponsors and cosponsors have been an integral part of the victory in South Dakota. Their efforts helped put South Dakota at the forefront of states calling for term limits on Congress,” Blumel added.
View the text of HJR5002 here.
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U.S. Term Limits is the largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocating solely on term limits. Our mission is to improve the quality of government with a citizen legislature that closely reflects its constituency and is responsive to the needs of the people it serves. USTL does not require a self-limit on individuals. Our aim is to limit the terms of all members of Congress as an institution. Find out more at termlimits.org.