Constitutional Amendments
and
Bond Questions

Constitutional Amendment 1

Constitutional Amendment 1 proposes to amend Section 5 of Article 8 to increase the current $2,000 property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States during a period in which the armed forces were engaged in armed conflict. The increase is phased in over four years, increasing by $500 each year from 2003 to 2006, and then remaining at $4,000. The exemption amount is subtracted from the assessed valuation of the property.

Constitutional Amendment 2

Constitutional Amendment 2 proposes to amend Section 1 of Article 7 to make two changes to qualifications for voters. It establishes 18 years, rather than 21 years, as the age of eligibility to vote in order to conform to the voting age established by the United States constitution. It also removes the language excluding idiots and insane persons from those qualified to vote.

Constitutional Amendment 3

Constitutional Amendment 3 proposes to repeal Section 25 of Article 6, which mandates eight judicial districts in the state and the counties to be included in each district. Currently there are 13 judicial districts in the state.

Constitutional Amendment 4

Constitutional Amendment 4 proposes to repeal Section 22 of Article 2, which mandates that unless otherwise provided by law, aliens who are not eligible to become citizens, and corporations majority-owned by such aliens, are prohibited from acquiring any interest in real property in New Mexico.

Constitutional Amendment 5

Constitutional Amendment 5 proposes to amend Section 15 of Article 8 to make two changes to an existing provision for a property tax exemption for certain veterans. Currently, this section provides an exemption from property tax for the principal place of residence of a veteran determined to have a permanent and total service-connected disability if the residence has been specially adapted to the veteran's disability using a federal grant for specially adapted housing. The amendment removes the requirement that the property must have been specially adapted for the veteran's disability. It also further defines an eligible disability, adding a requirement that it be a "one hundred percent" permanent and total service-connected disability.

Constitutional Amendment 6

Constitutional Amendment 6 proposes to amend Section 14 of Article 9, which is often referred to as the "anti-donation clause". Currently, that clause prohibits the state and its political subdivisions from lending or pledging credit or making donations to persons, associations or corporations. Several exceptions exist authorizing expenditures for the sick and indigent, certain scholarship programs and certain economic development initiatives. The proposed amendment would add another exception to allow the state, a county or a municipality to donate land for construction of affordable housing, donate an existing building for conversion into affordable housing or pay the costs of infrastructure for affordable housing. It also specifies requirements for the enabling legislation necessary to implement the amendment. The amendment also makes minor stylistic changes.

Constitutional Amendment 7

Constitutional Amendment 7 proposes to add a new Section 23 to Article 20 to designate the last Friday in March as a legal holiday in honor of Cesar Chavez.

Constitutional Amendment 8

Constitutional Amendment 8 proposes to amend Section 14 of Article 9 (the "anti-donation clause") to change the requirements for eligibility for the Vietnam veterans' scholarship program that is currently authorized by this section. Under the current provision, one of the requirements of eligibility is that a veteran must have been a resident of New Mexico at the original time of entry into the armed forces. The amendment would alter this residency requirement to also include veterans who have lived in New Mexico for 10 years or more.

Constitutional Amendment 9

Constitutional Amendment 9 proposes to amend Section 14 of Article 5 to change the name of the state highway commission to the state transportation commission.

Full text of proposed constitutional amendments

Bond Issue A: Senior Citizen Facilities

The 2002 Capital Projects General Obligation Bond Act authorizes the issuance and sale of senior citizen facility improvements and acquisitions bonds. Shall the state be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed ten million eight hundred seventeen thousand six hundred seventy-eight dollars ($10,817,678) to make capital expenditures for certain senior citizen facility improvements and acquisitions projects and provide for a general property tax imposition and levy for the payment of principal of, interest on and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the bonds and the collection of the tax as permitted by law?

Bond Issue B: State Public Education Capital Projects

The 2002 Capital Projects General Obligation Bond Act authorizes the issuance and sale of state public educational capital improvements and acquisitions bonds. Shall the state be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed ninety-three million four hundred twenty-nine thousand seven hundred seven dollars ($93,429,707) to make capital expenditures for certain public education, higher education and other educational institutions capital improvements and acquisitions and provide for a general property tax imposition and levy for the payment of principal of, interest on and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the bonds and the collection of the tax as permitted by law?

Bond Issue C: Public Libraries

The 2002 Capital Projects General Obligation Bond Act authorizes the issuance and sale of public library acquisition bonds. Shall the state be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed sixteen million eighty thousand dollars ($16,080,000) to make capital expenditures for public school, higher education and public library acquisitions and provide for a general property tax imposition and levy for the payment of principal of, interest on and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the bonds and the collection of the tax as permitted by law?

Bond Issue D: State Facilities Capital Projects

The 2002 Capital Projects General Obligation Bond Act authorizes the issuance and sale of state facilities improvement and equipment bonds. Shall the state be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed six million five hundred ninety-two thousand dollars ($6,592,000) to make capital expenditures for state facilities and equipment and provide for a general property tax imposition and levy for the payment of principal of, interest on and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the bonds and the collection of the tax as permitted by law?

Bond Issue E: Water Projects

The 2002 Capital Projects General Obligation Bond Act authorizes the issuance and sale of water project bonds. Shall the state be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed thirteen million one hundred three thousand dollars ($13,103,000) to make capital expenditures for water rights purchases and water projects and provide for a general property tax imposition and levy for the payment of principal of, interest on and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the bonds and the collection of the tax as permitted by law?

Full text of proposed constitutional amendments

Full text of proposed general obligation bond issue