Memorials, Death - U.S. Senator James Ralph Sasser -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by John Clemmons

Proposes a constitutional amendment to standardize regular legislative sessions at 45 days and relax subject-matter limits in even-numbered years, with veto-override bills allowed

Signed by Governor.

#death #memorials

Main purpose / intent

HJR 8 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how regular legislative sessions are scheduled and what business may be considered during them. If approved by voters, it would standardize the length of regular sessions and relax current restrictions on the subject matter of bills in even-numbered years, and permit consideration of veto-override measures during certain special or extraordinary sessions within a legislative biennium.

Key provisions

Amend Article IV, Section 5 of the New Mexico Constitution to:

Require that each regular session of the Legislature not exceed 45 calendar days.
Eliminate the current difference in subject-matter restrictions between sessions held in odd-numbered and even-numbered years (i.e., remove limitations on what bills may be considered in even-numbered years).
Allow consideration of veto-override bills originating in a previous regular, special, or extraordinary session within the same legislative biennium during certain special/extraordinary sessions.

The amendment would be presented to voters at the next general election (November 2026) or at a special election called before that date; it would take effect only if approved by voters.

Who would be affected

Legislature and legislative staff: changes in session scheduling and workflow; potential shift in timing for introduction/consideration of bills.

Executive branch and Governor: scheduling and interaction with the Legislature (e.g., veto/override timing).

Secretary of State and election administration: costs and logistics of placing the constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Voters: final approval is required by statewide referendum.

Fiscal and administrative impact

Election/ballot costs: Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) estimates an incremental one-time cost of approximately $35,000 to $50,000 for printing and publishing ballot materials for this constitutional amendment (cost depends on ballot size and logistics). These are nonrecurring costs charged to other state funds.

Longer-term legislative budget effect: LFC estimates that moving to a uniform 45-day session each year would produce savings in odd-numbered fiscal years and additional costs in even-numbered fiscal years that roughly offset each other; net legislative staffing/budget impact considered effectively zero.

Administrative: Legislative Council Service would need to update rules and procedures if the amendment is ratified; existing staff/resources are expected to absorb that work.

Procedural / timeline notes

HJR 8 is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment and requires voter ratification.

The Secretary of State must print sample ballots in English and Spanish equal to 10% of registered voters and publish those once weekly for four weeks before the election (per Section 1-16-4 NMSA 1978).

The LFC fiscal note notes a conflict with House Joint Resolution 1, which is similar but differs on the duration/conditions for veto-override consideration.

Committee action: Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee reported HJR 8 DO PASS (committee vote 5–1) and referred it to the Judiciary Committee. The legislative status provided here indicates the measure was ultimately marked “action postponed indefinitely.”

Bill