Measure 1Lets state senators serve three terms in a row instead of two
Read the full text of the measure: Legislative Resolution 19CA, final legal text and Secretary of State approved ballot statement (PDF, scanned)
In plain words
Today a Nebraska state senator can serve two four-year terms in a row, then must sit out four years before running again. Amendment 1 would allow three terms in a row (12 years). The four-year break after that stays the same. (news.ballotpedia.org )
Before and after
| Question | Today | If it passes |
|---|---|---|
| Terms in a row a senator can serve | 2 four-year terms (8 years) | 3 four-year terms (12 years) |
| Break before running again | 4 years | 4 years (same) |
Numbers from the official ballot title (ballot title ); also see (news.ballotpedia.org )
Biggest change
- Raises the limit from two consecutive four-year terms to three. source: newsfromthestates.com
Who it affects most: State senators now in office and the voters in their districts, who could keep the same senator four more years.
Cost to the state: Unknown. No cost estimate found.
Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.
What your vote means
A senator could serve up to 12 years in a row (three terms) instead of 8.
A senator could still serve only 8 years in a row (two terms).
Our one-line summary. Nebraska does not publish an official "what your vote means" statement; the ballot title above is the official description.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
The Legislature put this on the ballot. It changes the state constitution, so only another statewide vote can change it back. It passes with a majority of the votes cast on it.
- Voters set the two-term limit with Initiative 415 in 2000 (55.8% yes). It took effect in 2006. source: news.ballotpedia.org
- In 2012 voters turned down a similar change to three terms (Amendment 3), with 64.7% voting against it. source: news.ballotpedia.org
- The Legislature voted 39-10 on May 28, 2025 to put it on the 2026 ballot. source: news.ballotpedia.org
Why supporters want it
- Sen. Rob Dover, a sponsor, said term limits hit a one-house legislature harder than two-house states, where "there are two chambers, so that when a representative is termed out, they go to the other chamber." source: news.ballotpedia.org
Why opponents object
No public statement found.
Who backs each side
- For: Common Cause Nebraska, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom and the League of Nebraska Municipalities supported it while lawmakers debated it. source: news.ballotpedia.org
- Against: No public statement found.
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
The official ballot title, word for word from the Secretary of State's official ballot measures pamphlet .
Official wording to come. The Secretary of State's approved ballot statement for LR19CA is a scanned file (linked above); we publish its words here only after checking them word for word.
Official wording not yet copied here. The three-initiative pamphlet does not contain this resolution; its own text and the approved ballot statement are linked above, and the word-for-word comparison is still pending.
Latest news
Recent reporting from a range of outlets, newest first. We link to it; we don't endorse it.
No articles collected yet for this measure.
Full text of the measure
The three-initiative pamphlet does not contain Legislative Resolution 19CA. Read its legal text at the Nebraska Legislature and the approved ballot statement at the Secretary of State (scanned PDF) .
Read more
We link to analysis from several sources; we don't endorse it.