HJR 5/a LEGISLATIVE SESSION CHANGES, CA

Rep Natalie Figueroa

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

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 House Joint Resolution 5 (HJR 5) proposes to amend the state constitution by increasing the length of the legislative session in even-numbered years from 30 to 60 days and proposes to allow for consideration of veto overrides for bills of special or extraordinary sessions.  

 House Joint Resolution 5 (HJR 5) proposes to amend Article 4, Section 5 of the New Mexico constitution by providing that each regular legislative session is 60 days. It removes the requirement that even-numbered years have a 30-day legislative session.  The resolution further allows each regular session to consider any bill, including veto override bills of a previous regular, special or extraordinary session within the same legislative 2-year period. 

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

 Currently, even-numbered years have a 30 day legislative session.   

 On February 3, 2024, the House Judiciary Committee amended HJR 5 in the following three ways:
•	It reduced the length of a legislative session in even-numbered years from 60 to 45 days. In doing so, it reinstated language in the constitution regarding the 60 days session in odd-numbered years. 
•	It increased the maximum length of any special session from 30 to 45 days. 
•	It provided that every regular session may consider veto overrides, instead of just sessions during even-numbered years. 
 

 HJR 5 is related to HJR 1, HJR 9, SJR 3 and SJR 4