HJR 2 ELIMINATE POCKET VETOES, CA

Rep Matthew McQueen

Actions: HPREF [2] HGEIC/HJC-HGEIC [4] DP-HJC [8] DP-T

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 House Joint Resolution 2 (HJR 2) proposes to amend the constitution of New Mexico to eliminate the pocket veto; the resolution proposes that all bills passed by the legislature and not acted on by the governor will become law and requires veto messages on all bills vetoed by the governor.  

 House Joint Resolution 2 (HJR 2) proposes to amend Article 4, Section 2 of the state constitution by providing that all bills passed by the legislature and not vetoed by the governor become law. HJR 2 eliminates the pocket veto, which provided the governor with an indirect veto of a bill by not signing the bill within certain time limits. 

HJR 2 further requires that that any veto of a bill in whole or in part include an explanation of the veto.  This explanation must be returned with the bill to the house where the bill originated or deposited with the bill with the secretary of state.  

This proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the next general election or any special election prior to that date called for that purpose.  
 

 Currently, the governor has the ability to pocket veto bills by not signing a bill within the time limits provided in the constitution. Current law does not specifically require a veto message for bills partially vetoed.