HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Matthew McQueen

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

AMENDING THE JOINT RULES OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF BILLS A MEMBER CAN INTRODUCE OR SPONSOR IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

     WHEREAS, Joint Rule 8-1 provides that joint rules may be adopted, amended or repealed by concurrent resolution approved by two-thirds of the membership of each house;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, that Joint Rule 10-1 be amended to read:

          "BILL INTRODUCTION (10-1)

A. The legislative council service shall not draft or prepare a bill for introduction at any regular session of the legislature that convenes in an odd-numbered year unless the request to draft or prepare the bill for introduction has been received by the legislative council service prior to 5:00 p.m. on the twenty-eighth calendar day of that session. The legislative council service shall not draft or prepare a bill for introduction at any regular session of the legislature that convenes in an even-numbered year unless the request to draft or prepare the bill for introduction has been received by the legislative council service prior to 5:00 p.m. on the thirteenth calendar day of that session. The limitation provided in this rule does not apply to the general appropriation bill, bills to provide for the current expenses of the government and such bills as may be referred to the legislature by the governor by special message specifically setting forth the emergency or necessity requiring such legislation.

B. If an interim committee has endorsed a bill, resolution or memorial, the legislative council service shall draft and prepare the bill, resolution or memorial for introduction in only one house.

C. The legislative council service shall draft and prepare bills, resolutions and memorials requested by the governor or the various departments, institutions and agencies of the state for introduction in only one house.

D. A member of the house or senate shall not introduce more than five bills in a session of the legislature."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Joint Rule 11-1 be amended

to read:

          "JOINT SPONSORSHIP (11-1)

A. During any session of the legislature, any bill, resolution or memorial introduced in the house may be cosponsored by senate members by endorsing the bill, resolution or memorial or by filing a written notice in open session with the clerk of the house prior to third reading in the house, and any bill, resolution or memorial introduced in the senate may be cosponsored by house members by endorsing the bill, resolution or memorial or by filing a written notice in open session with the clerk of the senate prior to third reading in the senate. The names of the sponsor and cosponsors of all bills, resolutions and memorials shall be shown on the face of the enrolled and engrossed legislation.

B. A bill shall have one lead sponsor, who shall be listed first, and no more than four other named sponsors. There is no limit to the number of cosponsors.

C. A member of the house or senate shall not be the lead sponsor of more than five bills in a session of the legislature.".

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