SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 11

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Cliff R. Pirtle

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO LIMIT THE LEGISLATURE'S ABILITY TO INCREASE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE OPERATIONS OF STATE GOVERNMENT, EITHER THROUGH A GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT OR BY SPECIAL APPROPRIATION, AND TO REQUIRE A THREE-FOURTHS' VOTE OF EACH HOUSE TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS ABOVE THE LIMITATION.

     SECTION 1. It is proposed to amend Article 4 of the constitution of New Mexico by adding a new Section 43 to read:

          "A. Except as provided in Subsection B of this section, for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, in each regular legislative session, the legislature shall set the general fund appropriation limit for all purposes, whether appropriated in a general appropriation act or any special appropriation. The general fund appropriation limit shall not be set higher than five percent of the average of the preceding ten years of general fund appropriations.

          B. The legislature may exceed the general fund appropriation limit provided in Subsection A of this section only by a three-fourths' majority vote of each house of the legislature."

     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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