The 2025 New Mexico legislative session begins Tuesday, Jan. 21 and ends March 22. This session marks New Mexico’s 57th legislative session.
Legislative sessions occur in New Mexico annually. Sessions last 60 days in odd-numbered years and 30 days in even-numbered years.
During legislative sessions, New Mexico lawmakers meet to discuss and rule on various proposed bills.
In order for a bill to make it to the docket, it must be sponsored by a member of Congress, then referred to and discussed by a committee. Each piece of legislation is typically referred to two or three committees, according to the State Legislature handbook.
Committee hearings are open to testimony by the public.
Once a committee makes a decision about a bill — Do Pass, Do Pass As Amended, Do Not Pass, Without Recommendation or Without Recommendation As Amended — the full House of Representatives and Senate can decide whether to adopt the committee’s recommendation, according to the State Legislature handbook. A bill can also be tabled in a committee.
If a “favorable committee report” is adopted, the bill is debated and voted on. For a bill to pass, there must be a quorum — simple majority — present and a majority vote, according to the handbook.
The procedure repeats in the other chamber of Congress, where a bill must also pass to move on. Then, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham may sign the bill, veto it or — if it carries an appropriation — partially veto it, according to the handbook. The Legislature can override Lujan Grisham’s veto with a two-thirds vote.
As of Sunday, Jan. 19, over 100 bills have been introduced for the 2025 legislative session.
Some of these bills include the Librarian Protection Act, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act and the Trade Ports Development Act. All bills that will be discussed this legislative session and their status can be found on the New Mexico Legislature website.
To contact a New Mexico representative about local bills, constituents can use the “Find My Legislator” tool available on the New Mexico Legislature website.
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
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