Resources

We all have political power. Here’s how we can use it.

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Stay Informed

Learn about the critical issues

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We’ll keep you informed on our endorsements for pro-conservation candidates, legislative priorities, timely information on critical environmental issues and opportunities to take action to support our work to keep the air we breathe and the water we drink clean.

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News from the Ground up

Keep track of the stories that mean the most to New Mexican communities. Learn more about the priorities and issues that each part of the State faces.

Read Up On the Issues

Know The Score

See how well your legislators represented your values

Score Selection

Scorecards are a clear and comprehensive way for you to see how you are being represented on issues that matter to you. See conservation bill history and track your legislator’s score and voting record.

See the Scorecard

Recording the Votes

If a legislator voted in support of the pro-conservation position, his or her vote is recorded on the chart as a check mark ; votes against the conservation position are indicated with an .

Know Their Votes

Learn About Our State Legislature

How does it work?

The 55th Legislature

The New Mexico state legislature is comprised of 42 senators and 70 representatives, for a total of 112 members. The Senate began the 2022 legislative session with 28 Democrats and 14 Republicans and the House of Representatives includes 24 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and 1 Decline to State.

Learn How to Keep Score

Legislative Sessions

Our representatives meet in January and February each year for the legislative session. A legislature in New Mexico, such as the 55th Legislature, consists of two sessions split into two-year cycles. In odd-numbered years, legislators convene for a long session of 60 days. In even-numbered years, they meet for a short session of 30 days.

During a short session, only budget matters and issues approved by the governor may be considered. New Mexico legislative sessions are among the shortest in the country.

Citizen Legislature

New Mexico is one of only a handful of states that has a “citizen legislature,” meaning that our legislators do not receive a salary for their service. Most hold jobs outside of their work as public officials.

In fact, our state constitution prohibits any monetary compensation other than a modest allowance for mileage and expenses for attending sessions and interim committee meetings.

Introducing a Piece of Legislation

How Ideas Become Laws

A piece of legislation can be written by anyone and must be sponsored and introduced by a legislator. It must pass through a gauntlet of procedures, votes and systems. It’s important to know that each piece of legislation has the potential to completely change the way we live.

If you have an idea about a change you want to see in New Mexico, contact your legislators!

Committees

Committees Recommend Legislation

A legislative committee is made up of a group of legislators that meet to study a bill and hold public hearings in order to recommend action to the entire legislative body. Hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of pieces of legislation are introduced at the NM State Legislature, but the 30-day or 60-day sessions don’t provide enough time for their full consideration by our 112 legislators.

You can get involved with the committee process by contacting committee members on issues that matter to you, and even by offering public testimony during these sessions.

Third Readings and Floor Votes

The Final Stages of Legislation

If a piece of legislation receives a ‘Do Pass’ from all of its assigned committees, it moves to the final step of its legislative journey: Third Reading. Legislators vote to either pass or fail a bill by majority vote.

On rare occasions, legislators may ask that a bill be returned to a committee or referred to a new committee for further deliberation before a final vote is cast.

After a bill passes both the House and Senate, the bill is sent to the Governor’s desk. The Governor can sign the bill and it becomes law, or reject (veto) the bill.

Learn How to Speak Legislature

What to Look For

CVNM’s 2022 Legislative Agenda

Priorities for the Round House.

CVNM and CVNM Education Fund are working in partnership with communities to push leaders at all levels of state government to stabilize our budget, ensure a fairer economy and advocate for clean air, land and water.

This session, CVNM worked to …

See the Full Agenda

Get Even More Involved

Become a part of the broader CVNMEF’s work to protect New Mexico for future generations.

Join our Board

Representation matters. CVNM Education Fund’s Board of Directors are from all over the state, from all backgrounds, coming together to meet the needs of our communities.

Meet Our Board of Directors

Join our Team

The Staff at CVNM Education Fund are passionate about New Mexico’s resources, representation, and connecting people to their civic power. Check out our job opportunities to see if your passions can align with your work.

Join Our Team

Donate

Help us to build a thriving, just and resilient New Mexico.

We are committed to creating long-term change by working with communities to address environmental issues impacting their health and quality of life. We do this by bringing community members together to work on policy solutions, providing skills-building trainings and resources, organizing public events and connecting activists with decision-makers.

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