HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 2

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Natalie Figueroa and Linda Serrato and Kristina Ortez and Joy Garratt and Debra M. Sariñana

 

 

 

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING TO AMEND ARTICLE 4, SECTION 5 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO BY CHANGING THE LENGTH OF LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS TO SIXTY DAYS; ALLOWING THE CONSIDERATION OF ALL SUBJECTS, INCLUDING VETO OVERRIDES, DURING EACH REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION; REQUIRING A RECESS IN EACH LEGISLATIVE SESSION; ALLOWING PENDING LEGISLATION TO BE CONTINUED BETWEEN REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. It is proposed to amend Article 4, Section 5 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

          "A.  Each regular session of the legislature shall begin annually at 12:00 noon on the third Tuesday of January. Every regular session of the legislature [convening during an odd-numbered year] shall remain in session not to exceed sixty days [and every regular session of the legislature convening during an even-numbered year shall remain in session not to exceed thirty days]. No special session of the legislature shall exceed thirty days.

          B. Every regular session of the legislature convening during an even-numbered year [shall consider only the following:

                (1) budgets, appropriations and revenue bills;

                (2) bills drawn pursuant to special messages of the governor; and

                (3)] may consider for veto override bills of the last previous regular session vetoed by the governor.

          C. All business pending before the house of representatives and the senate at the end of a regular session of the legislature in an odd-numbered year shall be carried over for consideration in committee or on the floor of the house of representatives or the senate during the next regular session of the legislature.

          D. Each regular session of the legislature shall be recessed for five days following the thirtieth day of the regular session. The days of the recess pursuant to this subsection shall be excluded in computing the number of days of a regular session. Members of the legislature shall receive per diem for days in which the legislature is in recess."

     SECTION 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution

shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special

election prior to that date that may be called for that

purpose.

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