The second session of the 57th legislature has adjourned after 30 days of bill introductions, difficult debates, setbacks and celebrations – but it was a monumental year for new voter protections and legislative reforms.

Let’s take a look at some of the major wins to come out of the 2026 legislative session.

Modernizing the Legislature and Voter Protections Take Center Stage with Historic Victories:

• House Joint Resolution 5, Legislative Compensation – Cristina Parajón, Angelica Rubio, Michelle Abeyta, Cindy Nava, Angel Charley
• House Bill 2, General Appropriation Act of 2026 – Nathan Small, Meredith Dixon
• House Bill 9, Immigrant Safety Act – Eleanor Chavez, Angelica Rubio, Andrea Romero, Marianna Anaya, Joseph Cervantes
• Senate Bill 264, Election Rights & Troops at Elections – Katy Duhigg, Heather Berghmans, Cindy Nava, Angel Charley, Joseph Cervantes

Legislation that Didn’t Quite Make it to the Finish Line

• Senate Bill 261, Firearms at Polling Place – Joseph Cervantes
• House Bill 164, Lobbying Activity Reports – Sarah Silva, Jeff Steinborn, Joseph Hernandez
• House Joint Resolution 6, Session Length and Bill Considerations – Matthew McQueen, Rod Montoya
• House Joint Resolution 7, Consideration of Bills in All Session – Matthew McQueen, Rod Montoya
• Senate Bill 53, Community & Health Info Safety & Privacy Act – Angel Charley, Leo Jaramillo, Christine Chandler, Marianna Anaya, Pamelya Herndon

Modernizing New Mexico’s Legislature is on the 2026 Ballot!

For the first time in nearly 3 decades, voters will get to choose if New Mexico legislators should earn a salary. House Joint Resolution 5 proposes to amend the New Mexico Constitution’s prohibition on state lawmaker compensation.

New Mexico is the last unpaid legislature in the United States, meaning that our state Senators and Representatives voluntarily work on the most difficult challenges our communities face. With the increasing complexity of issues and the third shortest legislative session in the country, legislators have no choice but to juggle their time outside the Roundhouse to find the answers. The result is a heavily handicapped legislature working on a part-time basis 

State Representatives Christina Parajón and Angelica Rubio carried the joint resolution through the House with passion, arguing that in order for the legislature to be more effective for current legislators and more accessible for citizens who see themselves holding office one day, then there must be a realistic way to support themselves. Senators Angel Charley and Cindy Nava echoed the call in the Senate adding that without being extremely resourceful or independently wealthy, everyday New Mexicans from diverse lived experiences, economic backgrounds, and communities are extremely disadvantaged when considering public office in the legislature.  

The resolution passed the Senate chamber Tuesday, February 17th right before midnight, marking the first time this legislation has made it out of the Roundhouse since the late 1990s.

We at Common Cause have been tirelessly working with our partners, allies, and lawmakers over the last several years to bring this issue to the voters. We conducted a poll of eligible voters in 2022 where we asked if they support paying legislators a salary – 64% of respondents indicated they would support the measure. House Joint Resolution 5 would set legislative salaries at the state median household income reflected by the US Census Bureau, right around $67,000 dollars. The question will appear on the ballot during the 2026 Regular Election. 

Protecting Elections and Voters

With the threat to elections rising across the country, we urged our legislators to act and create protections for voters as we head into the 2026 midterms. A top priority was ensuring that the Office of the Secretary of State was adequately prepared by securing the critical funding necessary for election administration, cybersecurity, and personnel with an appropriation in House Bill 2. Two recommendations appeared from the Legislative Finance Committee and the Office of the Governor. The recommendation from the Executive included $12.28 million dollars in operational dollars while the Legislative Finance Committee’s FY27 budget recommendation included only $10.73 million. Both amounts were well below the Secretary of State’s Office’s budget request of $15.88 million dollars which mirrored the over $15 million dollars that was necessary to run and conduct elections in 2025. However, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and Senate Finance Committee was able to strike a middle ground between the two at around $12 million dollars. While this amount is under the $15 million dollars recommended by the Office of the Secretary of State, we will work with the Secretary of State to ensure that elections are conducted securely and are accessible to all who are eligible to vote.

Other threats to democracy include the rising presence of federal agents across the country and the dangers of federal officers being present at polling places. House Bill 9, Immigrant Safety Act, will prohibit public bodies from contracting with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and terminate any current agreements with the agency. Senate Bill 264 amended the election code to prohibit troops and federal agents from being ordered to a polling site. In tandem, these bills ensure that voters are free to participate in elections without fear of intimidation, threats of detainment, and challenges to their eligibility or citizenship. State and local governments should not be in the business of profiting from federal immigration enforcement without oversight or accountability and the activation of these agents across the country has set a dangerous precedent. We will not stand idly by while ICE and federal agents put law abiding citizens at risk and attempt to interfere in our elections. We applaud the sponsors of these very necessary and timely pieces of legislation.  

Creating a Better Roundhouse (HB 164, HB 261, HJR 7)

While progress was made on legislative modernization and elections some reforms were left on the table while the legislature adjourned. In its second year of introduction, House Bill 164, Lobbying Disclosures, failed to pass the house on a tie vote of 32-32. The bill sponsored by Representative Sarah Silva would have updated the Lobbyist Reporting Act to require lobbyists and their employers to disclose lobbying activity on the development of legislation prior to session and their position on bills that are being lobbied. We feel this bill would have created much needed transparency into a part of the legislative process that typically remains in the shadows. We are committed to continue working with the sponsor in the years to come and get this over the finish line. 

In even numbered years, the legislature only meets for 30 days and bills are subject to approval by the governor to determine germaneness. New Mexico is the only state that allows the governor to control the agenda of a legislative session. Representatives Matthew McQueen and Rod Montoya brought forward two resolutions that would change these rules with House Joint Resolution 6 and 7. Both resolutions would effectively eliminate the call of the governor, allowing for all bills to be germane in even numbered years. House Joint Resolution 6, however, would have also adjusted the 90 day biennium to two evenly split 45 day sessions instead of having 60 day sessions in odd numbered years and 30 day sessions in even numbered years. We fully support removing the call of the governor and giving the legislature full control over what bills are heard each year but, we recommend that the length of session be increased rather than split at the cost of losing legislative days during the odd numbered years. 

During the 2024 legislative session, we worked with Senator Peter Wirth and Reena Szczepanski to prohibit firearms near polling places with Senate Bill 5. While SB 5 was passed and signed into law in 2024, there remained a carveout to allow holders of a concealed carry permit to bypass the mandate. This year Senator Joseph Cervantes introduced Senate Bill 261 to address the carveout and outlaw all firearms, including concealed carry, from polling places with the exception of on-duty law enforcement offices. The bill received a passing majority on the Senate floor but never received a hearing in the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee. Voters should never be intimidated by the presence of firearms when exercising their right to vote and we look forward to ensuring we close the loophole during the next legislative session. 

Common Cause extends a sincere thank you to all the Senators and Representatives who worked many long hours and late nights on these incredible reforms that will benefit New Mexicans for many years to come. We are grateful for your continued support as we keep fighting to protect voters, increase transparency, maintain accountability and strengthen democracy.