House Passes Measures to Modernize Legislature
Joint resolutions would allow voters to decide whether to amend the constitution to update the length of New Mexico’s legislative sessions and provide a salary for lawmakers
Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the House of Representatives passed two pieces of legislation that would allow voters to take steps to modernize the state legislature. New Mexico is the only fully volunteer, unpaid state legislature in the country, and every other year’s session is limited to 30 days with a restricted scope of bills that may be addressed.
House Joint Resolution 5, which passed by a vote of 41-26, would allow state lawmakers to receive a salary for their work in the legislature. This salary would be equal to the state’s median household income each year, which currently sits around $67,800.
“New Mexico’s outdated system serves as a barrier for young people, working people, people with young families, and caregivers to serve as lawmakers. We should create more opportunities for every New Mexican to lead in the Roundhouse,” said HJR5’s lead sponsor Rep. Cristina Parajón (D-Albuquerque). “The benefits of a paid legislature go far beyond representation — legislators can dedicate more time towards their constituents and are more accountable to their communities.”
The House also passed House Joint Resolution 6 by a vote of 54-8. This proposal would standardize session lengths at 45 days each year, rather than alternating between 60-day and 30-day sessions. It would also remove outdated restrictions on legislation that can be considered in even-numbered years, and allow the legislature to consider overriding vetoes for legislation vetoed in the previous session.
“Our current, limited 30-day sessions are simply not sufficient to tackle our state’s challenges in the comprehensive way our constituents deserve,” said HJR 6’s lead sponsor Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Galisteo). “New Mexicans need a modern system with proper checks and balances and adequate time to tackle the issues facing our state today.”
HJR 5 has 23 sponsors including Reps. Angelica Rubio (D-Las Cruces) and Michelle Paulene Abeyta (D-To'hajiilee), and Senators Cindy Nava (D-Bernalillo) and Angel Charley (D-Acoma). Additional sponsors of HJR 6 include Reps. D. Wonda Johnson (D-Church Rock) and Rod Montoya (R-Farmington).
If also passed by the Senate, HJR 5 and HJR 6 would be put on ballot in the November 2026 election to allow voters to decide whether to amend the New Mexico Constitution to make these changes.
The House passed another modernization measure, House Joint Resolution 7, earlier this week. This alternative to HJR 6 would allow voters to implement the same measures regarding legislative agendas and veto overrides, without deciding to change session lengths.
This year’s proposals build on investments from the 2024 session that allowed lawmakers to hire full-time support staff and open offices in their districts for the first time in the history of the legislature.
The Roundhouse will be open to the public for the entirety of this year’s 30-day session. Members of the public can also view floor sessions and committee meetings on the New Mexico Legislature’s Webcasts tab, and provide comment via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.
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