JOINT RESOLUTION 2

59TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2027

INTRODUCED BY

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 4, SECTION 5 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO PROVIDE FOR THREE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS EACH YEAR, WITH THE FIRST SESSION NOT TO EXCEED FIFTY DAYS BEGINNING ON THE THIRD TUESDAY IN JANUARY, THE SECOND SESSION NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY DAYS BEGINNING ON JULY 11 AND THE THIRD SESSION NOT TO EXCEED TWENTY DAYS BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1; PROVIDE RESTRICTIONS ON BILLS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED IN THE THIRD REGULAR SESSION AND PROVIDE FOR CONSIDERATION OF VETO OVERRIDES FOR BILLS OF A REGULAR, SPECIAL OR EXTRAORDINARY LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITHIN THE SAME BIENNIUM.

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 first regular session of the legislature convening shall remain in session not to exceed fifty days.] The legislature shall convene annually in three regular sessions as follows:

(1) the first regular session shall begin at 12:00 noon on the third Tuesday of January and shall remain in session not to exceed fifty days;

(2) the second regular session shall begin at 12:00 noon on July 11 and shall remain in session not to exceed thirty days; and

(3) the third regular session shall begin at 12:00 noon on October 1 and shall remain in session not to exceed twenty days.

No special session of the legislature shall exceed thirty days.

B. Every regular session of the legislature may consider for veto override bills of [the last previous] a regular, [session vetoed by the governor] special or extraordinary session within the same legislative biennium.

The third regular session of the legislature shall consider only the following:

(1) budgets, appropriations and revenue bills;

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

(3) veto overrides as provided above."

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.