Constitutional Amendment 1Governor must explain vetoes; bills the governor ignores become law
Read the full text of the measure: Secretary of State amendments and bond questions (PDF)
In plain words
A "pocket veto" is when the governor kills a bill just by not signing it. In New Mexico this can happen to bills passed in the last three days of a session: if the governor does not act within 20 days after the session ends, the bill dies with no reason given. This amendment says a bill the governor does not act on becomes law, and any veto (whole or partial) must come with a written reason. Lawmakers could still override a veto with a two-thirds vote, as today. (nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature) )
Before and after
| Question | Today | If it passes |
|---|---|---|
| Governor does nothing within 20 days after the session | Bill dies (pocket veto) | Bill becomes law |
| Written reason for a veto | Not required for a pocket veto | Required for every full or partial veto (a "substantive explanation") |
| Legislature overrides a veto | Two-thirds vote | Two-thirds vote (same) |
Numbers come from the official ballot title and from the full text and analyses cited on this page, not from the title alone (ballot title ); also see (nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature) )
Biggest change
- A bill the governor does not sign or veto within 20 days after the session would become law instead of dying. source: nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature)
- Every veto, in whole or in part, would need a substantive written explanation. source: nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature)
Who it affects most: The governor and the Legislature; it changes how bills become law.
Cost to the state: No cost estimate was published with the amendment. The Legislative Council Service says unclear wording could lead to lawsuits between branches.
Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.
What your vote means
Bills the governor ignores become law, and every veto needs a written reason.
The governor can still kill late bills by not acting, with no reason required.
Our one-line summary. New Mexico does not publish an official "what your vote means" statement; the ballot title above is the official description.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
The Legislature put this on the ballot. It changes the state constitution, so only another statewide vote can change it back. It passes with a simple majority of the votes cast on it.
- From 2014 through 2026, governors pocket vetoed 166 bills and vetoed 180 bills, according to the Legislative Council Service. source: nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature)
- The 20-day deadline dates to a 1953 change; before that it was six days. source: nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature)
Why supporters want it
- Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Galisteo), a sponsor, says it supports "transparency and good government," and that when a bill passes by a large margin and the governor neither signs it nor explains why, lawmakers have no clear next step. source: newsfromthestates.com
- The Legislative Council Service lists as arguments for: written reasons would make the governor's objections public and show lawmakers how to fix a bill. source: nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature)
Why opponents object
- The Legislative Council Service lists as arguments against: the Legislature can already get a veto explanation by passing bills earlier and can override vetoes; a 20-day explanation rule could overload the governor's office and let flawed bills become law; and "substantive explanation" is not defined, which could lead to lawsuits and delays. source: nmlegis.gov (New Mexico Legislature)
Who backs each side
- For: the legislators who sponsored HJR 2, including Rep. Matthew McQueen. Against: no named group found. No public record found of campaign money for either side. source: newsfromthestates.com
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
The official ballot title, word for word from the Secretary of State's official list of constitutional amendments and bond questions .
Proposing an amendment to Article 4, Section 22 of the Constitution of New Mexico to require the governor to provide veto messages on all bills vetoed in whole or in part and to provide that all bills passed by the legislature and not acted on by the governor will become law.
FOR
AGAINST
Copied word for word from the Secretary of State's publication "2026 General Election: Statewide Constitutional Amendments and General Obligation Bonds" (English section), page 1. That shorter publication prints the question but not the choice words. The full 2026 Voter Guide prints FOR and AGAINST for the questions; we have not checked county ballot layouts, so confirm the words on your sample ballot.
Latest news
Recent reporting from a range of outlets, newest first. We link to it; we don't endorse it.
No articles collected yet for this measure.
Full text of the measure
Read it in the Secretary of State amendments and bond questions (PDF) .
Read more
- Secretary of State: 2026 constitutional amendments and statewide bond questions (PDF)
- Legislative Council Service: 2026 constitutional amendments, with arguments for and against (PDF)
- Source NM: Constitutional Amendments 1-3
We link to analysis from several sources; we don't endorse it.