Constitutional Amendment 4Constitutional amendment · Put on the ballot by lawmakers
Pay state legislators
Explain it like I'm 5
New Mexico lawmakers currently receive expenses but no regular salary. This change would allow a salary tied to the state's median household income.
Yes vote
Legislators could receive a salary equal to the state's annual median household income, beginning in 2029 under implementing legislation.
No vote
Legislators would continue without a regular salary, while retaining existing expense payments and other compensation allowed by law.
The question to ask yourself
Would paying legislators improve representation enough to justify an ongoing public expense?
The case for
- Could make legislative service more accessible to working people.
- May let lawmakers spend more time on public work instead of outside jobs.
- Ties the salary benchmark to New Mexico household incomes.
Backed by: Democratic Party of New Mexico, Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club, AAUW-NM
The case against
- Creates an ongoing public expense for lawmakers.
- The benchmark may be high for a part-time legislature.
- The amendment does not prohibit outside employment or automatically end other compensation.
Opposed by: New Mexico Business Coalition, Republican Party of New Mexico
- Money
- A legislative analysis estimated about $7.6 million annually for salaries for 112 lawmakers, beginning in 2029; additional benefits or related costs are not estimated.
- Don't be misled
- A yes vote would not automatically create a $68,000 salary, because the Legislature must set the amount by law and could choose less.