S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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10427
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 6, 2026
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Introduced by M. of A. SHRESTHA -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in
relation to increasing the length of the term of office for members of
the legislature; proposing an amendment to section 1 of article 4 of
the constitution, in relation to term limits for the office of gover-
nor and lieutenant-governor; and proposing an amendment to section 1
of article 5 of the constitution, in relation to term limits for the
offices of comptroller and attorney-general
Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 2 of article
3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
§ 2. The senate shall consist of fifty members, except as hereinafter
provided. The senators [elected in the year one thousand eight hundred
and ninety-five shall hold their offices for three years, and their
successors] shall be [chosen] ELECTED for [two] TERMS OF FOUR years
PROVIDED, FURTHER, NO SENATOR SHALL SERVE FOR MORE THAN SIXTEEN YEARS.
The assembly shall consist of one hundred and fifty members. The assem-
bly members [elected in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-
eight, and their successors,] shall be [chosen] ELECTED for [two] TERMS
OF FOUR years; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, NO ASSEMBLY MEMBER SHALL SERVE FOR
MORE THAN SIXTEEN YEARS. PROVIDED, FURTHER, ANY TERM ALREADY SERVED BY A
SITTING SENATOR OR ASSEMBLY MEMBER PRIOR TO THE AMENDMENTS TO THIS
SECTION BEING APPROVED AND RATIFIED BY THE PEOPLE AND COMING INTO EFFECT
SHALL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE LIMITS ON SERVICE SET FORTH BY THIS SECTION.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article 4 of
the constitution be amended to read as follows:
Section 1. (A) The executive power shall be vested in the governor,
who shall hold office for four years; the lieutenant-governor shall be
chosen at the same time, and for the same term. The governor and lieu-
tenant-governor shall be chosen at the general election held in the year
nineteen hundred thirty-eight, and each fourth year thereafter. They
shall be chosen jointly, by the casting by each voter of a single vote
applicable to both offices, and the legislature by law shall provide for
making such choice in such manner. The respective persons having the
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89125-01-5
A. 10427 2
highest number of votes cast jointly for them for governor and lieuten-
ant-governor respectively shall be elected.
(B) NO PERSON SHALL BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR MORE THAN
THREE TIMES. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, ANY TERM ALREADY SERVED BY A SITTING
GOVERNOR PRIOR TO THE AMENDMENTS TO THIS SECTION BEING APPROVED AND
RATIFIED BY THE PEOPLE AND COMING INTO EFFECT SHALL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE
LIMITS ON SERVICE SET FORTH BY THIS SECTION. PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT A
PERSON WHO HAS BEEN THRICE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR AND WHO IS
IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION TO SUCH OFFICE, PURSUANT TO SECTION SIX OF
THIS ARTICLE, SHALL BE PASSED OVER IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION AND THE
NEXT PERSON IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION SHALL ACT AS GOVERNOR.
(C) NO PERSON SHALL BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT-GOVER-
NOR MORE THAN THREE TIMES. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, ANY TERM ALREADY SERVED BY
A SITTING LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR PRIOR TO THE AMENDMENTS TO THIS SECTION
BEING APPROVED AND RATIFIED BY THE PEOPLE AND COMING INTO EFFECT SHALL
BE EXCLUDED FROM THE LIMITS ON SERVICE SET FORTH BY THIS SECTION.
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN THRICE ELECTED TO THE
OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR AND WHO IS IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION TO
SUCH OFFICE, PURSUANT TO SECTION SIX OF THIS ARTICLE, SHALL BE PASSED
OVER IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION AND THE NEXT PERSON IN THE LINE OF
SUCCESSION SHALL ACT AS LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
§ 3. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article 5 of
the constitution be amended to read as follows:
Section 1. The comptroller and attorney-general shall be chosen at the
same general election as the governor and hold office for the same term,
and shall possess the qualifications provided in section 2 of article
IV. The legislature shall provide for filling vacancies in the office of
comptroller and of attorney-general. No election of a comptroller or an
attorney-general shall be had except at the time of electing a governor.
NO PERSON SHALL BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER OR ATTORNEY-GEN-
ERAL WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN ELECTED TO SUCH OFFICE MORE THAN THREE
TIMES. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, ANY TERM ALREADY SERVED BY A SITTING COMP-
TROLLER OR ATTORNEY-GENERAL PRIOR TO THE AMENDMENTS TO THIS SECTION
BEING APPROVED AND RATIFIED BY THE PEOPLE AND COMING INTO EFFECT SHALL
BE EXCLUDED FROM THE LIMITS ON SERVICE SET FORTH BY THIS SECTION. The
comptroller shall be required: (1) to audit all vouchers before payment
and all official accounts; (2) to audit the accrual and collection of
all revenues and receipts; and (3) to prescribe such methods of account-
ing as are necessary for the performance of the foregoing duties. The
payment of any money of the state, or of any money under its control, or
the refund of any money paid to the state, except upon audit by the
comptroller, shall be void, and may be restrained upon the suit of any
taxpayer with the consent of the supreme court in appellate division on
notice to the attorney-general. In such respect the legislature shall
define the powers and duties and may also assign to [him or her] SUCH
PERSON: (1) supervision of the accounts of any political subdivision of
the state; and (2) powers and duties pertaining to or connected with the
assessment and taxation of real estate, including determination of
ratios which the assessed valuation of taxable real property bears to
the full valuation thereof, but not including any of those powers and
duties reserved to officers of a county, city, town or village by virtue
of [sections seven and eight] SECTION ONE of article nine AND SECTION
THIRTEEN OF ARTICLE THIRTEEN of this constitution. The legislature shall
assign to [him or her] SUCH PERSON no administrative duties, excepting
such as may be incidental to the performance of these functions, any
other provision of this constitution to the contrary notwithstanding.
A. 10427 3
§ 4. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendments be
referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in
conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be
published for three months previous to the time of such election.