HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 7

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

INTRODUCED BY

Alan T. Martinez and Andrea Reeb and Art De La Cruz

and William A. Hall II

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 10, SECTION 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO ALLOW COUNTY SHERIFFS TO SERVE UNLIMITED CONSECUTIVE FOUR-YEAR TERMS.

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

     SECTION 1. It is proposed to amend Article 10, Section 2 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

          "A. In every county, all elected officials shall serve four-year terms, subject to the provisions of Subsection B of this section.

          B. In those counties that prior to 1992 have not had four-year terms for elected officials, the assessor, sheriff and probate judge shall be elected to four-year terms and the treasurer and clerk shall be elected to two-year terms in the first election following the adoption of this amendment. In subsequent elections, the treasurer and clerk shall be elected to four-year terms.

          C. To provide for staggered county commission terms, in counties with three county commissioners, the terms of no more than two commissioners shall expire in the same year; and in counties with five county commissioners, the terms of no more than three commissioners shall expire in the same year.

          D. All county officers, after having served two consecutive four-year terms, shall be ineligible to hold any county office for two years thereafter; provided that a person shall be eligible to hold the office of sheriff for an unlimited number of consecutive four-year terms."

     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.

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