SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

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

INTRODUCED BY

Craig W. Brandt

 

 

 

 

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING TO AMEND ARTICLE 4, SECTION 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO EXTEND TO FOUR YEARS THE TERMS OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TO SIX YEARS THE TERMS OF MEMBERS OF THE SENATE; STAGGERING THE TERMS OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS; PROVIDING FOR A LIMIT OF THREE CONSECUTIVE TERMS FOR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS; CLARIFYING HOW LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES ARE FILLED.

 

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

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

     "Members of the [legislature] senate shall be elected [as follows: those senators from Bernalillo, Chaves, Curry, DeBaca, Grant, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union and Valencia counties for a term of six years starting January 1, 1961, and after serving such terms shall be elected] for a term of [four] six years, [thereafter; those senators from all other counties for the terms of four years] and members of the house of representatives shall be elected for a term of [two] four years. [They shall be elected on the day provided by law for holding the general election of state officers or representatives in congress. If a vacancy occurs in the office of senator or member of the house of representatives, for any reason, the county commissioners of the county wherein the vacancy occurs shall fill such vacancy by appointment] Members of the senate and house of representatives shall not serve more than three consecutive terms that begin on or after January 1, 2025. Legislators shall be elected on the day provided by law for holding the general election for representatives in congress.

     Members of the house of representatives elected in even-numbered house districts shall serve for a term of two years for the terms beginning January 1, 2025. Thereafter, members of the house of representatives elected in even-numbered house districts shall serve for a term of four years.

     Members of the senate elected in senate districts one, four, seven, ten, thirteen, sixteen, nineteen, twenty-two, twenty-five, twenty-eight, thirty-one, thirty-four, thirty-seven and forty shall serve for a term of two years for the terms beginning January 1, 2025. Thereafter, members of the senate elected in those districts shall serve for a term of six years. Members of the senate elected in senate districts two, five, eight, eleven, fourteen, seventeen, twenty, twenty-three, twenty-six, twenty-nine, thirty-two, thirty-five, thirty-eight and forty-one shall serve for a term of four years for the terms beginning January 1, 2025. Thereafter, members of the senate elected in those districts shall serve for a term of six years. Members of the senate in all other districts shall serve six-year terms beginning January 1, 2025.

     If a vacancy occurs in the office of representative or office of senator for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled as follows:

          A. for a house or senate district that is situated wholly within the exterior boundaries of a single county, the board of county commissioners of that county shall appoint the representative or senator to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term; and

          B. for a house or senate district that is situated within two or more counties, the board of county commissioners of each county in the representative or senate district shall submit one name to the governor, and the governor shall appoint the representative or senator to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term from the list of names submitted.

     [Such] Legislative appointments as provided in this section shall be for a term ending on December 31, subsequent to the next succeeding general election."

     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, and if so approved, the provisions of Section 1 of this resolution shall take effect on January 1, 2025.

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