State Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, got an early start on this year’s short legislative session. He prefiled several pieces of legislation in advance of the 30-day session which begins on Jan. 16, including two House Joint Resolutions that would make significant changes to the legislative process.
House Joint Resolution 1 would standardize the length of legislative sessions to 45 days each year. It would also remove restrictions on bills considered during even numbered years. And it would provide the Legislature with the power to override bills of a regular, special session “within the same legislative biennium.”
Currently, legislators meet for a 30-day session in even numbered years that is primarily focused on the state budget, though other bills can be introduced with the governor’s blessing. In odd numbered years, lawmakers meet for 60 days and take up issue-based legislation.
Efforts to reach McQueen, who represents House District 50, which includes southern Santa Fe County and a part of Sandoval County that encompasses Placitas, this week were unsuccessful.
McQueen also introduced HJR2, which would eliminate the governor’s “pocket veto” power.
Under the current law, the governor may pocket veto legislation by choosing not to sign bills passed by both the House and Senate. And the governor can do it without explanation. Last year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed 21 bills without explaining why.
HJR2 requires the governor to provide an explanation for the veto. “The explanation for the veto shall be returned with the bill to the house in which the bill originated…, it says.
Both of the joint resolutions, if approved by the Legislature, would ultimately be decided by the people. As amendments to the state constitution, they would be put up for vote during the next general election or during a special election. And as constitutional amendments the governor can’t veto them. If both houses approve, the amendments would be put up for referendum.
McQueen is also seeking major reform of the State Game Commission that would take away the governor’s authority to appoint all seven members. HB 23 would give the governor three appointments to the commission. The other four would be appointed by the Legislative Council, with no more than two of them members of the same political party. Instead of representing geographic districts, commissioners would be appointed by positions, like rancher, conservationist, hunter/angler, scientist, etc. Each commissioner would be limited to serving two terms.
In addition, McQueen is co-sponsoring a bill, HB48, with Rep. Bill Tallman (D-Albuquerque) that would set a royalty rate for future oil and gas development leases on state trust land.
Currently, the law provides that the lessee pays a royalty of not less than three-sixteens nor more than one-fifth of what’s produced on the premises. The proposed legislation would increase the royalty limit to not more than one-fourth of the cash value.
Proceeds from oil and gas extraction are paid to the Commissioner of Public Lands and go to the state’s general fund, then distributed to the permanent fund. Revenues above the five-year average are directed to the Early Childhood Trust Fund.