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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Lundstrom
DATE TYPED 2/14/05 HJR 4/aHGUAC
SHORT TITLE
Increase Legislative Term Lengths, Constitutional
Amendment
SB
ANALYST Medina
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to the Constitution of New Mexico
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Attorney General
SUMMARY
Synopsis of HGUAC Amendment
The House Government and Urban Affairs Committee amendment changes the effective year of
the proposed legislative term changes from 2008 to 2009, clarifying that legislative terms for leg-
islators elected in 2008 actually begin January 1, 2009.
Synopsis of Original Joint Resolution
House Joint Resolution 4 proposes an amendment to the Constitution of New Mexico changing
the length of term for state senators from four to six years and the length of term for members of
the House of Representatives from two to four years. The new term lengths would take effect at
the November 2008 general election.
Significant Issues
The joint resolution states the term start January 1, 2008. The term of election following the No-
vember 2008 general election actually begins January 1, 2009.