A bill that has already passed the state Senate would limit what the government could do to circumvent the constitutional debt limit.

While lawmakers are limited to incurring $350,000 in debt, there are ways they have gone around that. One such way has been selling state buildings, such as prisons, then leasing them back later.

Republican Sen. J.D. Mesnard’s bill would prevent such moves.

"I would say it's long overdue. There's been ongoing discussion about the sort of meaningless nature of what is in the constitution because of the maneuvering and gimmicks we're doing down here," Mesnard said. 

Opponents say the current debt limit does not account for population growth or inflation.

If it passes the Legislature, voters would have to approve the measure in 2024.