Committee Tables Minimum Wage Bill For New Mexico
Rep. Mark Duncan questions Rep. Miguel García about House Bill 28 during a House Commerce & Economic Development Committee hearing Monday at the Roundhouse. The bill would have raised the minimum wage based on the consumer price index but was tabled by the committee. ‘It’s dead,’ García said. Matt Dahlseid/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Legislative efforts to again increase the state’s minimum wage took a blow Monday after opponents effectively killed a bill to raise wage rates.
Members of the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee voted 6-4 Read More
NMDOT Partnership Provides Safe Rides Home From Valentine’s Day Events
NMDOT News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and its partners are promoting a safe ride home program to combat drunk driving in New Mexico.
Since 2017, NMDOT in partnership with Bernalillo County, the city of Albuquerque, Cumulus radio stations and Uber have provided nearly 26,000 safe rides home by supporting the “Take a Ride on Us” program for people living in the Bernalillo County metro area.
For celebratory events surrounding Valentine’s Day, the program is offering 500 rides for people living in and around the Albuquerque metro area, an Uber credit of Read More
New Mexico Lawmaker Proposes Statewide Plastic Bag Ban
Daniel Chacon, 9, claims the groceries Monday while his mother finishes up her transaction at El Paisano grocery in Santa Fe. Sen. Jeff Steinborn is pushing a proposal that would prohibit grocery stores and other retail establishments from providing customers single-use plastic bags. Jim Weber/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Paper or plastic?
Not if Sen. Jeff Steinborn has his way.
The Las Cruces Democrat is pushing a proposal that would prohibit grocery and liquor stores, restaurants, pharmacies and other retail establishments across New Mexico from Read More
Senate Unanimously Confirms Sarita Nair As NMDWS Cabinet Secretary
New NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair
NMDWS News
ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico State Senate unanimously confirmed Sarita Nair as the Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) with a vote of 30-0 on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.
Members of the Senate commented on her strong leadership, solid footing, and values, and commended the new Cabinet Secretary on her plan to broaden the scope of workforce services to all communities and to collaborate with Tribal nations.
“Sarita Nair is a proven leader who will take an innovative approach to continuing to build up the Workforce Read More
Legislative Roundup: 32 Days Remain In 2023 Session
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich honors former longtime state Rep. J. Paul Taylor, who recently died at age 102, at the start of his address to a joint session of the New Mexico Legislature on Monday at the Roundhouse. Heinrich urged lawmakers to make long-term investments with new revenue this year and the billions of dollars in federal funds. ‘What you do with these resources during this legislative session will be measured over the lifetime of a child, not an election cycle,’ Heinrich said. Matt Dahlseid/The Santa Fe New Mexican
Legislative Roundup
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Cutting drug prices: Read More
Governor Orders Flags To Half-Staff In Mourning Feb. 13 To Feb. 15 In Honor Of J. Paul Taylor
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today ordered all flags in the state of New Mexico to half-staff from Feb. 13 to Feb. 15 in honor of former state Rep. J. Paul Taylor, who passed away Sunday.
Taylor was born in Chamberino in 1920 and served as a state representative from 1987 to 2005, during which he chaired the House Health and Human Services Committee. A strong advocate for arts and culture and bilingual education, he sponsored legislation that elevated the state Office of Cultural Affairs to a cabinet-level department. He was a teacher and administrator in the Las Cruces school Read More
LAPS Possible Quorum Notice: Feb. 16 & 21, 2023
LAPS News:
Members of the Los Alamos School Board may attend the Strategic Planning With MindSteps meeting via Zoom 2-4 p.m. Feb. 16 & 21, 2023.
A quorum may be present, however no action will be taken.
The meeting is open to the public.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5056632222?pwd=ODd1d3h0Z1dGd1ByT0lVNGU3T2dFQT09
Meeting ID: 505 663 2222
Passcode: j45K8H Read More
Fostering Connections Bill To Expand Access To Services For Young Adults
CYFC Cabinet Secretary Barbara J. Vigil
CYFD News:
SANTA FE — The Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) is working to make its Fostering Connections program open to more young adults as they move from state care to adulthood.
The Fostering Connections bill, S.B. 328 sponsored by Sen. Michael Padilla, expands the eligibility criteria to ensure that all young people who age out of foster care can participate in Extended Foster Care and receive critical services and supports as they grow into adulthood.
“This work means that young people leaving the foster care system will have the type Read More
Small Sign Of COVID Worry At Roundhouse This Session
Ron Hammond of Santa Fe is the only one in the room wearing a mask while he waits Tuesday to speak to House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee at the Roundhouse. Luis Sánchez Saturno/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By ROBERT NOTT and DANIEL CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
For a while there, Sen. Martin Hickey, D-Albuquerque, wasn’t wearing a mask during this year’s legislative session.
Then one day, he was — after he was out sick for a while because he contracted COVID-19.
Here and there, you see signs others are being careful, like the cleaning person who had his mask tucked under his chin until one other Read More
Op-Ed: Redistricting And Modernizing The Legislature
By BARBARA CALEF
Co-President
League of Women Voters of Los Alamos
The League of Women Voters of New Mexico is advocating for three important constitutional amendments during the current legislative session. All of the bills must pass both the House and Senate first. Then they will be put on the 2024 ballot.
HJR1 Independent Redistricting Commission, Constitutional Amendment
The first bill is HJR1 (House Joint Resolution 1), which calls for the creation of the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC). At present the NM Constitution gives the legislature the responsibility for redistricting Read More
Legislative Roundup: 33 Days Remain In 2023 Session
Legislative Roundup
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Bill on police assaults tabled: A bipartisan bill that would have added felony attacks on police officers to the list of crimes that can be compensated by the Victims of Crime Act was tabled Saturday morning by the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee.
House Bill 225 is being sponsored by Reps. Ambrose Castellano, D-Las Vegas, Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, and Cynthia Borrego, D-Albuquerque. The Victims of Crime Act gives victims of certain crimes rights under New Mexico law, such as the right to be notified of and attend any court proceedings Read More
Paid Family And Medical Leave Bill For New Mexico Advances At Legislature
Lead sponsor, Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Less than a year after passing a bill requiring private employers to provide paid sick leave to their workers, Democrats are pushing a proposal to establish a paid family and medical leave law in New Mexico.
Senate Bill 11, which the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee endorsed on a 6-2 vote Thursday, would create a family and medical leave fund administered by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.
Both employees and employers would be required to contribute to the fund. Read More
Govenor Introduces Historic Tax Reform For New Mexico
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham unveiled bipartisan legislation Thursday that would lower the state’s Gross Receipts Tax rate an additional quarter-percent to 4.625 percent and create a deduction for a wide range of services sold to other businesses, saving New Mexicans as much as $411 million in total.
House Bill 367 is being sponsored by Rep. Jason Harper.
The new deduction will alleviate the “pyramiding” consequences of the state’s current Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) structure, in which businesses pass on the Read More
Santa Fe World Affairs Forum Features Talk On Ukraine-Russia With Historian Dr. James West Beginning Feb. 14
Odesa Opera House, 1979 by PHK. The UN’s Cultural Agency, UNESCO declared this historic center of Odesa a World Heritage Site on Jan. 25, describing it as ‘the duty of all humanity’ to protect it and added it to the list of world heritage sites in danger. Courtesy/SFWAF
SFWAF News:
In this free web series for Santa Fe World Affairs Forum (SFWAF) members and friends,
Santa Fe World Affairs Forum (SFWAF) is hosting a free web series with historian Dr. James L. West exploring the troubled relationship between Ukraine and Russia from earliest times to the present war.
The web series is 10:30 a.m. to noon Read More
Legislation To Expand New Mexico Teacher Scholarship Eligibility Passes First Committee
Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez
NMHED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) lauded the passage of Senate Bill 307 on a vote of 6-0 from the Senate Education Committee Friday to expand scholarships to help teachers go back to school and advance their careers.
Senate Bill 307 – Licensed Teacher Preparation Affordability, sponsored by President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart and House Education Chairman G. Andrés Romero, exp
Housing Advocates Call On New Mexico Legislature To Allocate Much Needed Funding To Maintain Rental Assistance & Eviction Prevention Programs
New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty News:
SANTA FE — The existing Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and Eviction Prevention and Diversion (EPD) program emerged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis.
These programs have proven to be very effective for the state. Because of these programs, thousands of New Mexico’s families were able to keep their housing over the last 2.5 years and their landlords received the rent they were owed.
The programs were funded with federal dollars which are quickly running out, and as of Jan. 1, the programs have been forced Read More
Leger Fernández & Students Make Valentines For Veterans
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández makes Valentine’s Day cards with third graders Friday at Gonzales Community School in Santa Fe to send to veterans. Courtesy photo
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, visited the Gonzales Community School Friday in Santa Fe to make Valentine’s Day cards for veterans with third grade students. During her visit, Leger Fernández spoke with teachers about her work to support educators and students across the Third Congressional District.
Rep. Leger Fernández launched her “Valentines for Read More
Ringside Seat: Junking The lottery … That’s The Ticket
By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Is the state lottery’s number up? Reps. Matthew McQueen and Jason Harper hope so.
Republican Harper and Democrat McQueen introduced a bill Thursday to abolish the 28-year-old New Mexico Lottery.
They’re in for a fight. That’s fine with both lawmakers. All 45 state lotteries, New Mexico’s included, are in the tawdry business of trying to entice people to risk their money on the slim hope that it will lead to something spectacular.
Like all the rest, New Mexico’s lottery is supposed to have a higher purpose than gamblers scratching bright, shining tickets. Read More
Governor Pitches Bill To Cut Gross Receipts Tax A Bit More
House Bill 367 Co-sponsor Rep. Jason Harper
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced an initiative to cut the state’s gross receipts tax rate, which she said could tally more than $400 million in savings for New Mexicans.
House Bill 367 also could lead to savings for consumers, who might see a reduction in prices of some goods as a result of the savings businesses may receive.
The legislation would lower the state’s Gross Receipts Tax rate an additional quarter percent — from 5 percent to 4.625 percent — and create a deduction for a range of services small businesses Read More
Proposed Alcohol Tax Increase Stirs Debate At Roundhouse
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
State Rep. Joanne Ferrary choked back tears Friday while advocating for a bill to increase New Mexico’s liquor excise tax to a flat 25 cents per serving, part of an effort to reduce consumption in a state with a serious drinking problem.
“It’s important to know New Mexico [is] No. 1 in the nation in alcohol-related deaths,” the Las Cruces Democrat said before taking a long pause to compose herself.
“We have to do something,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
“We buried my niece less than a month ago to an alcohol-related Read More
