Constitutional Amendment 1 - Governor Veto Messages & Unsigned Bills

Summary

In 2025, the New Mexico Legislature passed Constitutional Amendment 1, which, if adopted, would amend Article 4, Section 22 of the Constitution of New Mexico to remove what has been referred to as the "pocket veto". The pocket veto occurs when, after the adjournment of the legislature, the governor does not sign a bill that was presented to the governor during the last three days of session. By not acting on the bill, the bill does not become law. Constitutional Amendment 1 proposes to flip this dynamic. If this proposed amendment is approved by voters, a bill presented to the governor during the last three days of the session would by default become law if the governor does not issue a veto message within 20 days after the legislature's adjournment. In order to veto a bill passed by the legislature, the governor would be required to provide a written, substantive explanation for the veto.

Measure Details