1. Introduction and Committee Referral: A bill can be introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. It is assigned a number, read twice by its title, printed, and referred to a committee. 2. Committee Consideration: The committee meets (publicly) to discuss the bill. They may recommend: Do Pass, Do Pass As Amended, Do Not Pass, Without Recommendation, or it may be tabled. 3. Adoption of Committee Report: The full House or Senate must adopt the committee's report. If adopted, the bill is placed on the calendar for a third reading. 4. Third Reading, Voting and Final Passage: The bill is debated and a recorded vote is taken. A quorum (majority present) is needed for the vote. 5. Concurrence: The bill is sent to the other chamber and undergoes the same process. If amended, it returns to the first chamber for agreement. 6. Enrolling and Engrossing: After passing both chambers, the bill is copied accurately, signed by presiding officers, and sent to the governor. 7. Governor's Action: The governor may sign the bill, veto it, or partially veto it. The Legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote. 8. Laws: Not all laws take effect simultaneously. Some are effective immediately, others after 90 days post-adjournment, or at specified future dates.

Members of the public can get involved in the legislative process in New Mexico in several ways: 1. Observation: Individuals are encouraged to tour the New Mexico State Capitol and observe floor sessions or committee meetings during legislative sessions. 2. Testifying: Public participation is welcomed during committee meetings, where interested parties can testify in favor of or in opposition to proposed legislation. 3. Communicating with Legislators: Writing letters or emailing legislators is an effective way to voice opinions on legislation. Individuals can also make appointments to meet with their legislators to discuss specific issues. 4. Attending Interim Committees: Citizens can attend meetings of interim committees, which are held between legislative sessions, to engage in discussions about various issues under consideration by the Legislature. 5. Subscribing for Updates: Members of the public can track bills of interest, access contact information for legislators, and stay informed about upcoming sessions, calendars, and agendas.

Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in New Mexico every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.

FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.

FastDemocracy Professional is for anyone who tracks bills in a professional capacity. It features

• real-time bill, amendment and hearing alerts
• automated reporting
• team collaboration
• bill tagging for clients and stakeholders
• bill similarity detection
• ...and much more

1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.

2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.

3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.

4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.

5. You can track an unlimited number of bills for free and we'll send you a daily or weekly email if your tracked legislation moves.

6. Do you need real-time alerts, outreach tools, bill lists, and professional functions? Then FastDemocracy Professional is the right fit for you.

7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.

You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.