New Mexico Legislature

The State Legislature of New Mexico
The State Legislature of New Mexico
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate ; House of Representatives
Leadership
President/Lt. Governor	John Sanchez (R) ; since January 1, 2011
President Pro Tem of the Senate	Mary Kay Papen (D) ; since January 15, 2013
Leader of the Senate	Michael Sanchez (D) ; since January 18, 2005
Speaker of the House	Don Tripp (R) ; since January 20, 2015
Leader of the House	Nate Gentry (R) ; since January 20, 2015
Structure
Seats	112
Political groups	Democratic Party; Republican Party
Elections
Last election	November 2014
Next election	November 2016
Meeting place
	State Capitol, Santa Fe
Website
	http://nmlegis.gov/

The New Mexico Legislature is the legislative branch of the state government of New Mexico. It is a bicameral body made up of the New Mexico House of Representatives and the New Mexico Senate.

History

In 1922, Bertha M. Paxton became the first woman elected to the New Mexico Legislature, serving one term in the House of Representatives.^[1]

Session structure and operations

The Legislature meets in regular session on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year. The New Mexico Constitution limits the regular session to 60 calendar days, every other year it is 30 days.^[2] The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate, while the Speaker of the House is elected from that body in a closed door majority member caucus. Both have wide latitude in choosing committee membership in their respective houses and have a large impact on lawmaking in the state.

Only the Governor may call the Legislature into special sessions, unlike other states where the legislature may call itself into session. The Governor may call as many sessions as he or she wishes. The New Mexico Constitution does not limit the duration of each special session; lawmakers may consider only those issues designated by the Governor in his or her "call," or proclamation convening the special session (though other issues may be added by the Governor during a session).^[3]

Any bill passed by the Legislature takes effect 90 days after its passage unless two-thirds of each house votes to give the bill either immediate effect or earlier effect. The Legislature, of course, may provide for an effective date that is after the 90th day.

Districting

The legislature consists of 70 representatives and 42 senators. Each member of the House represents roughly 25,980 residents of New Mexico. Each member of the Senate represents roughly 43,300 residents. Currently the New Mexico Legislature has split majorities. The Democratic Party holds a majority in the Senate, while the Republican Party holds the majority in the House. The Republican Party also holds the Governor's office.

Redistricting

A legislative committee is assigned by the governor to meet every 10 years based on the outcome of the US Census to redistrict the boundaries of districts for the state legislature, and congressional districts.^[4]

Term limits

Currently, there are no term limits for legislators. The longest current member of the legislature has served since the 1970s. House members are elected every 2 years, while Senate members are elected every 4 years.^[5]

Party summary

State Senate

File:Senatenm.png

Senate Party standings

24 Democrats

18 Republicans

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" \|	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" \|
	Democratic	Republican		Vacant
End of previous legislature	27	15	42	0

Jan 1, 2015 - Mar 14, 2015	25	17	42	0
Mar 14, 2015 - Apr 5, 2015	24	17	41	1
Apr 5, 2015 – Present	24	18	42	0

House of Representatives

File:Housenm.png

House Party standings

37 Republicans

33 Democrats

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)			Total
	style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" \|	style="background-color:Template:Independent Party (United States)/meta/color" \|	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" \|
	Democratic	Ind	Republican		Vacant
End of previous legislature	38	0	32	70	0

Begin	33	0	37	70	0

History

Session	Years		House					Senate				Governor
Session	Years		Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others		Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others	Governor
1st	1912–1914		49	16	30	3		24	7	16	1	William W. McDonald
2nd	1915-1916		49	14	33	2		24	7	16	1	William W. McDonald
3rd	1917-1918		49	19	30	-		24	10	14	-	Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca
3rd	1917-1918		49	19	30	-		24	10	14	-	Washington E. Lindsey
4th	1919-1920		49	15	34	-		24	9	15	-	Octaviano Larrazolo
5th	1921-1922		49	15	34	-		24	9	15	-	Merritt C. Mechem
6th	1923-1924		49	33	16	-		24	9	15	-	James F. Hinkle
7th	1925-1926		49	28	21	-		24	11	13	-	Arthur T. Hannett
8th	1927-1928		49	18	31	-		24	11	13	-	Richard C. Dillon
9th	1929-1930		49	12	37	-		24	6	18		Richard C. Dillon
10th	1931-1932		49	28	21	-		24	8	16	-	Arthur Seligman
11th	1933-1934		49	41	8	-		24	20	4	-	Arthur Seligman
11th	1933-1934		49	42	7	-		24	20	4	-	Andrew W. Hockenhull
12th	1935-1936		49	38	12	-		24	18	6	-	Clyde Tingley
13th	1937-1938		49	47	2	-		24	23	1	-	Clyde Tingley
14th	1939-1940		49	42	7	-		24	23	1	-	John E. Miles
15th	1941-1942		49	40	9	-		24	21	3	-	John E. Miles
16th	1943-1944		49	33	16	-		24	21	3	-	John J. Dempsey
17th	1945-1946		49	30	19	-		24	18	6	-	John J. Dempsey
18th	1947-1948		49	30	19	-		24	18	6	-	Thomas J. Mabry
19th	1949-1950		49	36	13	-		24	19	5	-	Thomas J. Mabry
Session	Years		House					Senate				Governor
Session	Years		Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others		Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others	Governor
20th	1951-1952		55	46	9	-		24	18	6	-	Edwin L. Mechem
21st	1953-1954		55	27	28	-		31	22	9	-	Edwin L. Mechem
22nd	1955-1956		55	51	4	-		32	23	9	-	John F. Simms
23rd	1957-1958		66	43	23	-		32	24	8	-	Edwin L. Mechem
24th	1959-1960		66	60	6	-		32	24	8	-	John Burroughs
25th	1961-1962		66	59	7	-		32	28	4	-	Edwin L. Mechem
25th	1961-1962		66	59	7	-		32	28	4	-	Tom Bolack
26th	1963-1964		66	55	11	-		32	28	4	-	Jack M. Campbell
27th	1965-1966		77	59	18	-		32	28	4	-	Jack M. Campbell
28th	1967-1968		70	45	25	-		42	25	17	-	David F. Cargo
29th	1969-1970		70	44	26	-		42	25	17	-	David F. Cargo
30th	1971-1972		70	48	22	-		42	28	14	-	Bruce King
31st	1973-1974		70	51	19	-		42	30	12	-
31st	1973-1974		70	50	20	-		42	30	12	-
32nd	1975-1976		70	51	19	-		42	29	13	-	Jerry Apodaca
32nd	1975-1976		70	51	19	-		42	30	12	-
33rd	1977-1978		70	48	22	-		42	33	9	-
34th	1979-1980		70	41	29^[6]	-		42	33	9	-	Bruce King
34th	1979-1980		70	41	29^[6]	-		42	32	10	-
35th	1981-1982		70	41	29^[7]	-		42	22	20	-
35th	1981-1982		70	41	29^[7]	-		42	23	19	-
36th	1983-1984		70	46	24	-		42	23	19	-	Toney Anaya
36th	1983-1984		70	47	23	-		42	23	19	-
37th	1985-1986		70	43	27^[8]	-		42	21	21^[9]	-
								42	20	22	-
								42	20^[10]	22
38th	1987-1988		70	47	23	-		42	21^[11]	21	-	Garrey Carruthers
38th	1987-1988		70	46	24	-		42	21	21^[12]
39th	1989-1990		70	45	25	-		42	26	16	-
39th	1989-1990		70	45	25	-		42	25	17	-
Session	Years		House					Senate				Governor
Session	Years		Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others		Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others	Governor
40th	1991-1992		70	49	21	-		42	26	16	-	Bruce King
41st	1993-1994		70	53	17	-		42	27	15	-	Bruce King
42nd	1995-1996		70	46	24	-		42	27	15	-	Gary Johnson
43rd	1997-1998		70	42	28	-		42	25	17	-
44th	1999-2000		70	40	30	-		42	25	17	-
45th	2001-2002		70	42	28	-		42	24	18^[13]	-
46th	2003-2004		70	43	27	-		42	24	18	-	Bill Richardson
47th	2005-2006	70	42	28	-	42	24	18	-
48th	2007-2008	70	42	28	-	42	24	18	-
49th	2009-2010	70	45	25	-	42	27	15^[14]	-
50th	2011-2012	70	36	33	1	42	27	15^[14]	-	Susana Martinez
51st	2013-2014	70	38	32	-	42	25	17	-
52nd	2015-2016	70	33	37	-	42	24	18	-
Session	Years	Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others	Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others	Governor
Session	Years	House				Senate				Governor

References

^ Eisenstadt, Pauline; Belshaw, Jim (2012). "A Woman in Both Houses: My Career in New Mexico Politics". University of New Mexico Press.
^ "SESSION DATES" (PDF). Nmlegis.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
^ https://web.archive.org/web/20120505000622/http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/statutes.aspx. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ "New Mexico Legislative Redistricting". Nmlegis.gov. 2002-12-21. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
^ https://web.archive.org/web/20101225194736/https://crcmich.org/PUBLICAT/2000s/2007/note200703.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 25, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2012. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ Coalition of 11 Democrats and 29 Republicans controlled the House Majority
^ Coalition of 10 Democrats and 27 Republicans controlled the House Majority
^ Coalition of 10 Democrats and 26 Republicans controlled the House Majority
^ Coalition of 4 Democrats and 21 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority until one of the Democrats switched parties in late 1985, giving the Republicans outright control
^ Coalition of 4 Republicans and 19 Democrats controlled the Senate Majority in the 37th Session's special legislative session in September 1986.
^ Coalition of 3 Republicans and 21 Democrats controlled the Senate Majority
^ Coalition of 5 Democrats and 18 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority beginning in January 1988
^ Coalition of 3 Democrats and 18 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority
^ ^a ^b Coalition of 8 Democrats and 15 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority

External links

New Mexico Legislature official website

[1] Eisenstadt, Pauline; Belshaw, Jim (2012). "A Woman in Both Houses: My Career in New Mexico Politics". University of New Mexico Press.

[2] "SESSION DATES" (PDF). Nmlegis.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-23.

[3] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20120505000622/http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/statutes.aspx. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[4] "New Mexico Legislative Redistricting". Nmlegis.gov. 2002-12-21. Retrieved 2016-02-23.

[5] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20101225194736/https://crcmich.org/PUBLICAT/2000s/2007/note200703.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 25, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2012. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[6] Coalition of 11 Democrats and 29 Republicans controlled the House Majority

[7] Coalition of 10 Democrats and 27 Republicans controlled the House Majority

[8] Coalition of 10 Democrats and 26 Republicans controlled the House Majority

[9] Coalition of 4 Democrats and 21 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority until one of the Democrats switched parties in late 1985, giving the Republicans outright control

[10] Coalition of 4 Republicans and 19 Democrats controlled the Senate Majority in the 37th Session's special legislative session in September 1986.

[11] Coalition of 3 Republicans and 21 Democrats controlled the Senate Majority

[12] Coalition of 5 Democrats and 18 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority beginning in January 1988

[13] Coalition of 3 Democrats and 18 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority

[autogenerated1-14] Coalition of 8 Democrats and 15 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority

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v t e Members of the New Mexico Senate
56th Legislature (2023–2024) President of the Senate Howie Morales (D) President pro tempore Mimi Stewart (D) Majority Leader Peter Wirth (D) Minority Leader Greg Baca (R)
▌William Sharer (R) ▌Steven Neville (R) ▌Shannon Pinto (D) ▌George Muñoz (D) ▌Leo Jaramillo (D) ▌Roberto Gonzales (D) ▌Pat Woods (R) ▌Pete Campos (D) ▌Brenda McKenna (D) ▌Katy Duhigg (D) ▌Linda M. Lopez (D) ▌Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D) ▌Bill O'Neill (D) ▌Michael Padilla (D) ▌Daniel Ivey-Soto (D) ▌Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D) ▌Mimi Stewart (D) ▌Bill Tallman (D) ▌Gregg Schmedes (R) ▌Martin Hickey (D) ▌Mark Moores (R) ▌Benny Shendo (D) ▌Harold Pope Jr. (D) ▌Nancy Rodriguez (D) ▌Peter Wirth (D) ▌Moe Maestas (D) ▌Greg Nibert (R) ▌Siah Correa Hemphill (D) ▌Greg Baca (R) ▌Joshua A. Sanchez (R) ▌Joe Cervantes (D) ▌Cliff Pirtle (R) ▌William Burt (R) ▌Ron Griggs (R) ▌Crystal Diamond (R) ▌Jeff Steinborn (D) ▌William Soules (D) ▌Carrie Hamblen (D) ▌Liz Stefanics (D) ▌Craig Brandt (R) ▌David Gallegos (R) ▌Steven McCutcheon (R)
▌Democratic (27) ▌Republican (15) New Mexico Legislature House Senate List of past legislatures

v t e Members of the New Mexico House of Representatives
56th Legislature (2023–2024) Speaker of the House Javier Martínez (D) Majority Leader Gail Chasey (D) Minority Leader Rod Montoya (R)
▌Rod Montoya (R) ▌Mark Duncan (R) ▌Bill Hall (R) ▌Anthony Allison (D) ▌Doreen Wonda Johnson (D) ▌Eliseo Alcon (D) ▌Tanya Mirabal Moya (R) ▌Brian Baca (R) ▌Patricia Lundstrom (D) ▌G. Andrés Romero (D) ▌Javier Martínez (D) ▌Art De La Cruz (D) ▌Patricia Roybal Caballero (D) ▌Miguel Garcia (D) ▌Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D) ▌Yanira Gurrola (D) ▌Cynthia Borrego (D) ▌Gail Chasey (D) ▌Janelle Anyanonu (D) ▌Meredith Dixon (D) ▌Debra Sariñana (D) ▌Stefani Lord (R) ▌Alan Martinez (R) ▌Elizabeth Thomson (D) ▌Cristina Parajón (D) ▌Eleanor Chavez (D) ▌Marian Matthews (D) ▌Pamelya Herndon (D) ▌Joy Garratt (D) ▌Natalie Figueroa (D) ▌Bill Rehm (R) ▌Jenifer Jones (R) ▌Micaela Lara Cadena (D) ▌Raymundo Lara (D) ▌Angelica Rubio (D) ▌Nathan Small (D) ▌Joanne Ferrary (D) ▌Tara Jaramillo (D) ▌Luis Terrazas (R) ▌Joseph Sanchez (D) ▌Susan K. Herrera (D) ▌Kristina Ortez (D) ▌Christine Chandler (D) ▌Kathleen Cates (D) ▌Linda Serrato (D) ▌Andrea Romero (D) ▌Reena Szczepanski (D) ▌Tara Lujan (D) ▌Gail Armstrong (R) ▌Matthew McQueen (D) ▌John Block (R) ▌Doreen Gallegos (D) ▌Willie D. Madrid (D) ▌James G. Townsend (R) ▌Cathrynn Brown (R) ▌Harlan Vincent (R) ▌Jason Harper (R) ▌Candy Ezzell (R) ▌Jared Hembree (R) ▌Joshua Hernandez (R) ▌Randall Pettigrew (R) ▌Larry Scott (R) ▌Martin R. Zamora (R) ▌Andrea Reeb (R) ▌Derrick Lente (D) ▌Jimmy Mason (R) ▌Jack Chatfield (R) ▌Charlotte Little (D) ▌Harry Garcia (D) ▌Ambrose Castellano (D)
Majority caucus ▌Democratic (45) Minority caucus ▌Republican (25) New Mexico Legislature House Senate List of past legislatures

v t e Legislatures of the United States
United States Congress	United States House of Representatives United States Senate
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Other legislatures	District of Columbia American Samoa (H, S) Guam Northern Mariana Islands (H, S) Puerto Rico (H, S) U.S. Virgin Islands
Legislative elections	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
List of U.S. state legislators Lists of past U.S. state legislatures