New Mexico’s 56th Legislature starts with fireworks
From the get-go things in this year’s 60-day legislative session were different. First of all the leadership has undergone huge shakeups since last year starting at the top. Former Speaker of the House Brian Egoff is gone and Javier Martinez a Bernalillo County attorney has moved into his office. We knew that change was coming since the session ended last year The change we didn’t see coming was when Martinez and progressives in the Democrat party replaced moderate Democrat Patricia Lundstrom chair of the powerful House Appropriations and Finance Committee with Nathan Small of Las Cruces. It was a move that even surprised Democrats. Republicans had their own shake-up but not on quite as big a stage. After Minority Whip Jason Harper advocated the wrong side in an early debate his title was changed to former Minority Whip and replaced by Roswell’s Greg Niebert.

Things also got heated as HB-1, known as the Feed Bill, because it normally provides for the costs of holding a legislature, was found to have funding in it to study expanding legislators’ staffing to year-round. Republicans, well mostly except Rio Rancho representative Harper argued against including the item in the Feed Bill rather than debating it separately. It eventually passed on a party-line vote but the news is that it normally is passed unanimously.
Minimum wage debates continue
Probably one of the most important debates for business to happen so far this session are the introduction of several minimum wage bills. That’s right, the last stepped rise in New Mexico’s minimum wage went into effect Jan. 1 when it became $12 an hour. HB-28 advanced out of the House Labor, Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee last week. The measure ties the minimum wage in New Mexico to the inflation rate. Another bill that initially would have jumped the rate to $16 an hour and then index future increases to inflation was not voted on, even after the sponsor relented to $13.50 an hour to start and $15.50 an hour by 2025.

“To me, this is actually a tax hike and it’s going to raise the cost of food, said Freshman Rep. Andrea Reeb, who represents Clovis and Portales areas, in an Albuquerque Journal story.
Tax rebates considered again
With another record year of revenue thanks to oil and gas revenues, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has come out in favor of another rebate of $750 per person or $1,500 per couple. A bill has been introduced and we suspect this will easily be approved, even though it’s not an election year.
School meals for all
SB-4 proposes to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student in all public and charter schools in New Mexico. Democrats believe making sure students are fed and ready to learn is important and the money is available to make it happen. The bill also promotes locally grown foods. Republicans say the price of doing it would be unsupportable in lean budget years.
School year extension considered
It’s been considered before and the notion is back in this year’s legislature. Why not target sagging education achievement by sending kids to school longer. Locally, Portales Schools Superintendent Johnnie Cain says he has mixed feelings about the idea but hopes school districts will be given latitude on how they implement any changes.
Legislators going dry?
A measure that would require legislators not to imbibe in alcoholic beverage prior to attend a floor session or committee meeting is up for consideration. We’re guessing a majority of lawmakers are against the idea and those of us spectating don’t like it either. What’s the fun in sober law-making?