New Mexico voters to decide amendment changing appointment process for university boards of regents in Nov. 2026

New Mexico voters will decide on an amendment relating to the appointments to members of the Board of Regents on Nov. 3, 2026. The amendment passed both chambers of the state legislature.

The amendment, House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR 1), was introduced in the New Mexico House of Representatives by Rep. Christine Chandler (D). On Feb. 6, HJR 1 passed the House by 67-0, and on Feb. 17, the Senate approved the amendment by 34-7. Constitutional amendments do not need the governor’s signature to be referred to the ballot.

The amendment would change the way appointments to the Board of Regents, the governing bodies that manage public universities in the state, are made. Seven state universities—Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, New Mexico State University, Northern New Mexico College, University of New Mexico, Western New Mexico University—are governed by a Board of Regents.

The duties of the Board of Regents include providing fiduciary oversight, management, and establishment of policies to state universities. Currently, the members of the Board of Regents are appointed by the governor with approval by the Senate. They serve staggered six-year terms, except for the student regent, who serves a two-year term.




https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/02/19/new-mexico-voters-to-decide-amendment-changing-appointment-process-for-university-boards-of-regents-in-nov-2026/