New York state lawmakers for years have considered the possibility of imposing term limits on themselves but so far none of those proposals or campaign promises have come to fruition.

"Hope springs eternal but I know it's an uphill battle," said state Assemblymember Monica Wallace, D-Lancaster.

Wallace said there are many good reasons her colleagues should consider the idea.

"It gives more people the opportunity to run," she said. "More people are excited about new candidates and it gives more people the opportunity to be in public service."

Wallace is proposing a constitutional amendment she believes has the right ingredients for support. It would limit state legislators to 16 years and change terms from two years to four.

The bill would also limit statewide officials — the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller — to three four-year terms. The time lawmakers have already served would not apply.

"Twelve, 16 years, that's a good amount of time to develop institutional knowledge and there's really nothing about this bill that would prevent any of the people leaving office in the state Legislature from running for a different office, which often happens," Wallace said.

Unite NY, a good government reform group, said term limits is its top priority for this year. However, Executive Director Timothy Dunn said the non-profit is focusing on a narrower amendment, also sponsored by Wallace, which would only apply to statewide offices.

"We're hoping to announce a Senate sponsor in the coming days so we have a majority sponsorship in both houses and we're putting the petal to the metal. Our priority is to pass this bill this session," Dunn said.

According to Unite NY's most recent poll, 80% of voters in the state support term limits for statewide offices.

"Gov. Hochul has come out and supported this issue in the past. She's said on the campaign trail and in 2022 that she would support this measure," Dunn said.

He said while the Legislature has made significant election law changes recently, it hasn't really impacted turnout. Dunn said as many voters are disenchanted with presidential candidates, it's a good time to drive home the need for reform at the state level.

"We've had a constitutional officer leave office in disgrace in every one of those four offices in the last 20 years and we think that's problematic and it's something we need to take up and address," he said.