LEGISLATIVE TERM LIMITS & SALARIES, CA

SJR02

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2

57
th legislature
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
second session
, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Craig W. Brandt
and
Pat Boone

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING TO AMEND ARTICLE 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO
TO LIMIT STATE LEGISLATORS TO NO MORE THAN TWELVE YEARS OF
ELECTED SERVICE AS A LEGISLATOR, TO ADD A NEW SECTION TO CREATE
AN INDEPENDENT CITIZEN COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH, ADJUST AND
LIMIT THE SALARIES OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND TO AMEND
SECTION 10 TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF A SALARY TO LEGISLATORS.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1.
It is proposed to amend Article 4, Section 4
of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"
A.
Members of the [
legislature
]
senate
shall be
elected [
as follows: those senators from Bernalillo, Chaves,
Curry, DeBaca, Grant, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Sandoval, San Juan,
San Miguel, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union and Valencia
counties for a term of six years starting January 1, 1961, and
after serving such terms shall be elected
] for a term of four
years, [
thereafter; those senators from all other counties for
the terms of four years
] and members of the house of
representatives
shall be elected
for a term of two years.
[
They
]

B. Members of the legislature
shall be elected on
the day provided by law for holding the general election of
state officers or representatives in congress. If a vacancy
occurs in the office of senator or member of the house of
representatives, for any reason, the county commissioners of
the county wherein the vacancy occurs shall fill such vacancy
by appointment. Such legislative appointments as provided in
this section shall be for a term ending on December 31,
subsequent to the next succeeding general election.

C. A person who has served as a member of the
legislature for a total of twelve years shall not be eligible
for further election or appointment to the senate or the house
of representatives, and a person shall not be eligible for
election or appointment to the senate or the house of
representatives if the term of that office would result in the
person's total years of service in the legislature exceeding
twelve years.
"

SECTION 2.
It is proposed to amend Article 4 of the
constitution of New Mexico by adding a new Section 43 to read:

"A. The "citizen commission on legislative
salaries" is established as an independent state agency for the
purpose of establishing, adjusting and limiting the salaries of
members of the legislature.

B. The citizen commission on legislative salaries
is composed of nine public members, not more than four of whom
shall belong to the same political party at the time of
appointment, and whose appointments, terms and qualifications
shall be provided by law.

C. The citizen commission on legislative salaries
shall research, review and consider the establishment of
salaries for members of the legislature, adopt a final report
on its determination to establish, adjust or limit those
salaries and file that report with the secretary of state on or
before October 1, 2029 and every four years thereafter.

D. The salaries established, adjusted or limited as
adopted in the final report of the commission shall become
effective on the first full state employee pay period in July
following the filing of the report with the secretary of state
beginning July 1, 2030.

E. An affirmative vote of at least five members of
the citizen commission on legislative salaries is required for
adoption of a report of the commission establishing, adjusting
or limiting salaries for members of the legislature.

F. A member of the citizen commission on
legislative salaries shall serve without compensation, but is
entitled to receive per diem and mileage as provided by law for
nonsalaried public officials."

SECTION 3.
It is proposed to amend Article 4, Section 10
of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"Each member of the legislature shall receive:

A. per diem at the [
internal revenue service
] per
diem rate
set by the federal general services administration or
successor agency for federal employees and officials
for the
city of Santa Fe for each day's attendance during each session
of the legislature and the internal revenue service standard
mileage rate for each mile traveled in going to and returning
from the seat of government by the usual traveled route, once
each session as defined by Article 4, Section 5 of this
constitution;

B. per diem expense and mileage at the same rates
as provided in Subsection A of this section for service at
meetings required by legislative committees established by the
legislature to meet in the interim between sessions; [
and
]

C. a salary established, adjusted or limited
pursuant to Section 43 of this article; and

[
C.
]
D.
no other compensation, perquisite or
allowance."

SECTION 4.
The amendment proposed by this resolution
shall be submitted to the people for their approval or
rejection at the next general election or at any special
election prior to that date that may be called for that
purpose.

- 5 -