Legislative Session on the Web

To the Governor’s Desk

Bills that pass both the Senate and House of Representatives go to the governor to be signed or vetoed. They are formally prepared by either the Senate or House of Representatives where they originated, signed by the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate, and forwarded to the governor. The governor can sign the bill, making it law, veto it, or line-item veto it, if the bill contains an appropriation.

If the governor doesn’t sign or veto a bill within three days—and if the legislature is still in session—it becomes law. If the legislature has adjourned, the governor has 20 days to sign bills. Unsigned bills are pocket vetoes.

The legislature can override the governor’s veto with a two-thirds vote by the Senate or House of Representatives.

When a Signed Bill becomes Law

Signed bills typically become law 90 days after the legislature adjourns. However, the legislature can specify an emergency, which makes the bill effective when the governor signs it, or at a later date for the law to go into effect.

New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association

The New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association provides legislative and educational services for its member cooperatives that deliver electric power to New Mexico’s rural areas and small communities. The mission of the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association is to strengthen, support, unify, and represent Cooperative member interests at the local, state, and national levels. It also publishes enchantment Magazine, a publication devoted exclusively to the people and events of rural New Mexico.

Board of Directors

Charles T. Pinson, Jr., President Central Valley Electric Cooperative, Artesia

Tim Morrow, Vice President Springer Electric Cooperative, Springer

Duane Frost, Secretary-Treasurer Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative, Mountainair

Chris Martinez, Director Columbus Electric Cooperative, Deming

Keith Gottlieb, Director Continental Divide Electric Cooperative, Grants

Antonio Sanchez, Director Farmers’ Electric Cooperative, Clovis

Manny Bustos, Director Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, Española

Robert Caudle, Director Lea County Electric Cooperative, Lovington

James Ortiz, Director Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Mora

Thomas G. Rivas, Director Northern Río Arriba Electric Cooperative, Chama

Preston Stone, Director Otero County Electric Cooperative, Cloudcroft

Gene Creighton, Director Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative, Portales

Donald L. Wolberg, Director Socorro Electric Cooperative, Socorro

George Biel, Director Sierra Electric Cooperative, Elephant Butte

Joe Reeser, Director Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Clayton

Wayne Connell, Director Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Westminster, Colorado

Charles G. Wagner, Director Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Anadarko, Oklahoma

New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association

614 Don Gaspar Avenue Phone: 505-982-4671 Santa Fe, NM 87505 Fax: 505-982-0153 www.nmelectric.coop www.enchantment.coop

Charise M. Swanson Chief Executive Officer

Tom Condit Director of Communications

Ed Rougemont Self-Insurer’s Fund Administrator

Evelyn C. Vigil Office Manager

Mary L. Salazar Administrative Assistant

Legislative Almanac Copies

Single copies of the Legislative Almanac are available upon request. Send a 9x12 self-addressed envelope with $1.42 in postage to the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association. For multiple copies, call Mary Salazar at 505-982-4671. Available for download at www.nmelectric.coop

All materials copyright ©2023

New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association

Reproduction prohibited without written permission of the publisher.

Printed by Paper Tiger, Santa Fe, NM.