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Bill Summary · HJR 9

Legislative bill overview

HJR 9 proposes that New Mexico apply to Congress to call a federal constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. This would be a mechanism to propose amendments to the Constitution through a convention rather than the traditional Congressional proposal process. The bill has stalled in committee since January 2026 and was indefinitely postponed in March 2026.

Why is this important

A constitutional convention is an extraordinarily rare event—the last one occurred in 1787. This mechanism could theoretically allow states to fundamentally reshape the Constitution if enough states apply and ratify any proposed amendments. The outcome of such a convention is unpredictable, as delegates could theoretically propose changes far beyond the original scope, raising both opportunities and risks depending on one's political perspective.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope concerns: Critics worry a convention could become "runaway," proposing amendments on topics far beyond what the applying states intended
  • Partisan divisions: Conservative and progressive groups have different motivations for constitutional reform, creating uncertainty about what would actually emerge from a convention
  • Irreversibility: Once called, a convention's agenda cannot be easily controlled, and the ratification process for any proposed amendments remains uncertain and lengthy

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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