Senate endorses bill to tighten term limits

HELENA (AP) — The Montana Senate has endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would cut off lawmakers for good after 16 years in office.

he amended version of House Bill 277 would tighten term-limit provisions to prevent a state legislator from switching from the House to the Senate and back again every eight years.

The original House bill would have allowed a legislator who already has served 16 years to run again after sitting out another eight years.

A Senate committee changed that provision to limit the total time in office to 16 years. The bill with the change passed its initial vote Friday 37-13.

Sen. Greg Jergeson voted no, while Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy voted yes.

The House must agree with the Senate's changes and receive at least 100 votes from both chambers before it appears on the ballot in 2014.