SJR 1 New Mexico Senate · 2025 Regular Session

LEGISLATIVE SALARIES COMMISSION, CA

SJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to create a nine-member Citizen Commission on Legislative Salaries, independent of the legislature, to set and adjust lawmakers' salaries. The commission would review salaries every four years, require a five-vote majority for decisions, and submit reports to the secretary of state by October 1 (starting in 2028). This would replace New Mexico’s current per diem and mileage system for legislators with a fixed salary determined by the commission. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election and is currently pending, having been postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → RU substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to create a Citizen Commission on Legislative Salaries as an independent state agency, changing the commission's composition and reporting timeline. The commission now consists of nine public members with no more than four from the same political party, and must file reports by October 1, 2029 (changed from 2028) rather than every four years starting in 2028. The constitutional amendment will be submitted to voters at the 2028 general election (unchanged from original). Legislative per diem and mileage rates remain tied to federal standards for Santa Fe, and the salary provision references the new Section 43 of Article 4.

Scope change

The commission is now defined as an independent state agency with nine public members instead of the original unspecified composition, and the reporting deadline was extended from October 1, 2028 to October 1, 2029.

REQUIREMENT

Commission composition changed to nine public members with a limit of four from the same political party

Commission authority now includes limiting salaries in addition to establishing and adjusting them

TIMELINE

Commission report filing deadline changed from October 1, 2028 to October 1, 2029

Commission report frequency changed from every four years starting 2028 to every four years starting 2029

DEFINITION

Commission now explicitly defined as an independent state agency

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Rules Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors