Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse OliverSTATE News:
SANTA FE ― The New Mexico State Senate has passed an important update to the state’s public financing system.
Senate Bill 4 passed the Senate Tuesday 34-1 and, if it becomes law, will expand public financing of certain races in New Mexico elections.
“People from all backgrounds and walks of life should have the ability to run for public office, not just the wealthy and well-connected,” Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said. “Today’s passage of Senate Bill 4 by the New Mexico State Senate is a great step toward a better and better-funded public financing system for elections which will give more ordinary New Mexicans the ability to serve their communities.”
Senate Bill 4 is sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth and is a priority for Secretary Toulouse Oliver in this legislative session. The bill makes changes to the state’s Voter Action Act, which provides for public financing for statewide judicial candidates and candidates for the public regulation commission.
Senate Bill 4 is very similar to Sen. Wirth’s Senate Bill 97 from 2017 that passed the Senate 37-0, passed the House 51-15, but was vetoed by then-Governor Susana Martinez.
It now moves on to the New Mexico House of Representatives for consideration.
