HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 12

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Randall T. Pettigrew

 

 

 

 

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES UNDER ARTICLE 5 OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO CALL A CONVENTION, UPON THE APPLICATION OF TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATES, FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE OF PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO IMPOSE FISCAL RESTRAINTS ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LIMIT THE POWER AND JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS AND LIMIT THE TERMS OF OFFICE FOR FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

 

     WHEREAS, the governor of New Mexico is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget, and the New Mexico legislature is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget, thereby preserving the state's financial solvency and integrity; and

     WHEREAS, the federal government continues to accrue unsustainable increases in the national debt, obligating New Mexico's citizens and future generations to insurmountable financial burdens; and

     WHEREAS, otherwise necessary federal regulatory protections become costly, unworkable and oppressive when congested by an excess of unnecessary and obsolete rules and mandates, causing hardships to local governments, small businesses and working families; and

     WHEREAS, a professionalized congress, whose members may be more influenced by the power of organized pressure groups than the interests of the majority of the citizens, fails in its service to those citizens and proves unresponsive to fiscal excess and government overreach; and

     WHEREAS, constitutionally applied mechanisms for establishing sound requirements for accountability of federal spending, regulation and public service are necessary to the well-being of the people; and

     WHEREAS, twenty-two million seven hundred forty-seven thousand acres in New Mexico, comprising twenty-nine and twenty-four hundredths percent of the state's land mass, are managed by the United States forest service and the United States bureau of land management, while an additional two million seven hundred twelve thousand six hundred acres, or five and forty-eight hundredths percent of the state's land mass, are under national park service and United States department of defense control; and

     WHEREAS, overreaching federal agency policies and decisions can have significant, unreasonable and costly impacts on users of public lands, as well as on private landowners, local citizens, local governments and local economies; and

     WHEREAS, the burdens of federal government overreach on New Mexico's small businesses and families, regardless of the extent of their reliance on public lands, are made worse by unrestrained federal spending and an unwillingness by a professionalized congress to confront these issues; and

     WHEREAS, a constitutional amendment defining the limits of federal agency power over public and private lands and respecting the jurisdictional powers and responsibilities of the states and local governments is necessary; and

     WHEREAS, Article 5 of the United States constitution recognizes the authority of the legislatures of the states to propose amendments at a convention, which would become effective upon ratification by at least three-fourths of the states; and

     WHEREAS, Article 5 of the United States constitution provides authority for a convention to be called by the congress of the United States for the purpose of proposing amendments to the constitution upon application of two-thirds of the legislatures of the several states;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislature hereby apply to congress, under the provisions of Article 5 of the United States constitution, for the calling of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the United States constitution to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of congress; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislature appoint commissioners to the convention and instruct those commissioners as necessary; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislature include representatives of users of federal lands and their resources among its appointments of commissioners; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislature instruct its commissioners to pursue an amendment proposal which, if ratified by three-fourths of the states, would appropriately limit the parameters of federal power over public and private lands with respect to local jurisdictions and attest the responsibilities and powers of the states and local governments; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of state is hereby directed to transmit copies of this application to the president of the United States, the president and secretary of the United States senate and the speaker and clerk of the United States house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article 5 of the United States constitution until the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the several states have made applications on the same subject.

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