Committee backs constitutional amendment to shift and standardize New Mexico legislative sessions

The House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 14 recommended House Joint Resolution 1, a constitutional amendment sponsored by Representative McQueen, which would restructure the legislature’s regular sessions and remove a germaneness rule that limits what can be introduced during the shorter, second session of the legislative biennium.

The amendment (230267.2) reworded the ballot title to clarify the measure for voters and altered one line to move the session start date from the third Tuesday to the second Tuesday of the legislative year. McQueen told the committee the change to 45/45 would “level” sessions so lawmakers can pursue multiyear work without losing momentum between a 60‑day and a 30‑day session. The amendment also eliminates the germaneness restriction that currently limits second‑session activity to budget‑related or governor‑messaged matters, allowing members to introduce substantive bills in both years of the biennium.

Members who supported the resolution said it would professionalize the legislature and reduce the stop‑start effect that forces sponsors to reintroduce bills after a long layoff. Representative Romero and others asked whether carrying a bill from one year to the next would give unfinished or poorly vetted measures an advantage; McQueen and supporters clarified that bills must still be reintroduced and cleared again by committees in the new session. Representative Hoffman Beheel said she supports longer sessions but urged that any change to session length should be paired with compensation or other professionalization because New Mexico’s legislature remains unpaid.

After debate and public comment, the committee adopted the amendment and voted to give HJR1 a do‑pass recommendation. The resolution will proceed to the House floor.