The South Dakota Senate chamber at the state Capitol in Pierre during the 2024 legislative session. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

PIERRE — South Dakota voters should determine whether legislators need tighter term limits, the state Senate decided Monday at the Capitol.

If the House agrees, the measure will be on the November general election ballot.

The Senate voted 20-14 in favor of sending the proposed state constitutional amendment to voters. It would cap state lawmakers at 16 consecutive years of service, which equates to eight consecutive two-year terms. That would be added to the current term limits of eight consecutive years in either chamber. Currently, without an overall limit, legislators can bounce back and forth between the chambers repeatedly.

Sen. Michael Rohl, R-Aberdeen, sponsors the bill. He said 16 consecutive years is a reasonable maximum that still allows for the retention of experience while ensuring turnover and opportunities for “leaders of tomorrow.”

Opponents, including Sen. Carl Perry, R-Aberdeen, called it a “solution looking for a problem.” They argued the system already turns over frequently, and warned that forced turnover could weaken institutional knowledge and shift influence to bureaucrats and lobbyists. Perry said term limits reduce voter choice because elections already allow constituents to remove lawmakers every two years.