Summary:

 House Joint Resolution 8 (HJR 8) proposes an amendment to NM Constitution, Article 4, Section 5 that provides that each regular session of the legislature shall not exceed forty-five days, removes the restrictions on bills that may be considered in even-numbered years, and allows for veto override of a bill from certain special or extraordinary sessions. 


 

Legislation Overview:

 House Joint Resolution 8 (HJR 8) proposes an amendment to NM Constitution, Article 4, Section 5 that provides that each regular legislative session will not exceed forty-five days. It removes the restrictions on bills that may be considered in even-numbered years and gives the legislature the discretion to consider overriding a vetoed bill from a special or extraordinary session within the same legislative biennium (specified two-year period). 

If passed, HJR 8 will be submitted to the people of the state who will approve or reject this proposed amendment at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date that may be called for that purpose.

 

Current Law:

 The legislature meets for ninety days in a two-year period: even numbered years for thirty days; odd-numbered years for sixty days. The legislature is restricted to the types of bills it may consider in a thirty-day (even-numbered years) session to budget bills; bills on the governor’s call; and bills from the previous regular session that were vetoed by the governor.