Bill would have tied pay to Cost of Living Index

SANTA FE – The heavily-discussed House Bill 31 encountered a stumbling block in the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee during the first session of the 54th New Mexico State Legislature.

During the March 5 session, the committee was unable to attain enough votes to advance HB 31.

HB 31 called for a minimum wage increase across New Mexico in phases. If passed into law, it would call for a minimum wage rate of $10 an hour, which would increase after July 2020 to $11 an hour, and then again after July 2021 to a minimum of $12 an hour.

In addition, HB 31 would eliminate the tip exceptions for employees like restaurant...

Landmark education bill heads for Senate

SANTA FE - The House of Representatives has passed House Bill 5 Public Education Changes sponsored by House Floor Majority Leader Representative Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque), House Education Committee Chair Representative Andres Romero (D-Albuquerque), House Appropriations & Finance Chairwoman Patricia Lundstrom (D-Gallup), Representative Christine Trujillo (D-Albuquerque), and Representative Bobby Gonzalez (D-Taos).

Described as the “moonshot bill” by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, HB 5 calls for a $449 million dollar increase for public education funding, while raising teacher minimum salaries, expanding K-5 Plus, and...

Health department warns about measles outbreaks

SANTA FE - In light of the recent state of emergency declared in the Washington state after a measles outbreak, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is strongly encouraging parents to vaccinate their children.

“Vaccines are the best protection against measles and many other serious diseases,” said Department of Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel. “The entire purpose of getting vaccinated is to protect you and your loved ones from disease before it makes you sick. The greater the number of New Mexico children that are fully vaccinated, the better the chance entire families - even entire communities - stay healthy.”

Measles...

SANTA FE - New Mexico’s newly minted Women’s Legislative Caucus has selected its first round of nine key pieces of legislation supporting the state’s women, children and families.

The New Mexico Women’s Legislative Caucus has endorsed the following pieces of legislation with a minimum three-fourths vote in support.

HB 71 – School-Based Health Center Funding. Brings funding levels to school based health centers back to pre-recession levels. These health centers are throughout the state.

HB 135 – Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights. Lays out rights for persons who have been sexually assaulted, including having their rape kit tested in a reasonable time, notification...