New Mexico House passes legislative modernization measures

Organ Mountain News report

SANTA FE - The New Mexico House of Representatives has approved two joint resolutions that would allow voters to decide on changes to the state’s legislative structure, including session length and veto procedures.

House Joint Resolution 1, which passed 59-4, proposes setting legislative sessions at 45 days each year. Currently, sessions alternate between 60 days in odd-numbered years and 30 days in even-numbered years. The resolution would also allow legislators to consider any type of bill during any session and revisit vetoed legislation from prior sessions, including special or extraordinary sessions, within a two-year period.

House Joint Resolution 2, which passed unanimously, would eliminate the governor’s ability to pocket veto legislation. Under current law, bills that are not signed or vetoed before the deadline are automatically rejected without explanation. The resolution would require the governor to provide a reason for any veto, and bills not acted upon by the deadline would become law.

“The people of New Mexico deserve modern and transparent processes in their state government,” said Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, the lead sponsor of both resolutions. “By standardizing our session lengths, removing outdated restrictions on legislation and requiring more checks and balances on vetoes, we can better serve the people of our state.”

Other sponsors of the measures include House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe; Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces; Rep. Rod Montoya, R-Farmington; and Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview.

If approved by both chambers of the Legislature, the proposed constitutional amendments would go before voters in the November 2026 election.