HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 13

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Rod Montoya and Daymon Ely and Georgene Louis

and James G. Townsend

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 4, SECTIONS 5 AND 23 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO PROVIDE THAT EACH REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE SHALL NOT EXCEED FORTY-FIVE DAYS, TO CHANGE THE DATE ON WHICH EACH REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE SHALL BEGIN, TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTIONS ON BILLS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS AND TO CHANGE THE DATE THAT LAWS SHALL GO INTO EFFECT AFTER THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

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

     SECTION 1. It is proposed to amend Article 4, Section 5 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

          "[A.] Each regular session of the legislature shall begin annually at 12:00 noon on the third Tuesday of [January] February. Every regular session of the legislature [convening during an odd-numbered year shall remain in session not to exceed sixty days, and every regular session of the legislature convening during an even-numbered year] shall remain in session not to exceed [thirty] forty-five days. No special session of the legislature shall exceed thirty days.

          [B. Every regular session of the legislature convening during an even-numbered year shall consider only the following:

                (1) budgets, appropriations and revenue bills;

                (2) bills drawn pursuant to special messages of the governor; and

                (3) bills of the last previous regular session vetoed by the governor.]"

     SECTION 2. It is proposed to amend Article 4, Section 23 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

     "Laws shall go into effect [ninety] seventy-five days after the adjournment of the legislature enacting them, except general appropriation laws, which shall go into effect immediately upon their passage and approval. Any act necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety shall take effect immediately upon its passage and approval, provided it be passed by [two-thirds] a two-thirds' vote of each house and such necessity be stated in a separate section."

     SECTION 3. 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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