New Mexico legislature reconvenes, cigarette tax passes first committee
SANTA FE, New Mexico (KVII) — The New Mexico 53rd Legislature reconvenes on Thursday, after a proposal to increase taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 25 would raise cigarette taxes by $1.50 a pack and impose an equivalent amount on electronic cigarettes. The additional revenue would go to the public school fund. The bill must pass two more committees before it goes to the Senate Floor.
On Thursday, some of the committee hearings, which will be held by the House of Representatives, include discussions regarding public safety, school meals and financing for the drinking water system and wastewater system.
House Bill 18 would enhance the three strikes law by sentencing mandatory life in prison, with exceptions.
When a defendant is convicted of a third violent felony, and each violent felony conviction is part of a separate transaction or occurrence, and at least the third violent felony conviction is in New Mexico, the defendant shall, in addition to the sentence imposed for the third violent conviction, be punished by a sentence of life imprisonment. The life imprisonment sentence shall be subject to parole pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-21-10 NMSA 1978.
House Bill 93 focuses on financing for the drinking water system. It would appropriate $1,800,000 to the drinking water state revolving loan fund.
House Bill 62 makes an appropriation of $400,000 for New Mexico-grown fresh fruits and fresh vegetables to be provided in schools meals at charter schools, school districts and juvenile detention centers through the school meals programs.
House Bill 65 would enact appropriating $1,100,000 to the wastewater facility construction loan fund. This provides low-cost financial assistance in the construction of wastewater facilities and other eligible projects, in order to improve and protect water quality and public health.
House Joint Memorial 6 is requesting that theVolkswagen Trust Settlement Fund be able to use $18,000,000 to purchase electric school buses in order to reduce nitrous oxide emissions throughout New Mexico.
House Floor Calendar- click here
House Committee Calendar - click here
Senate Floor Calendar - click here
Senate Committee Calendar - click here
Scheduled legislation for January 25:
Thursday, January 25, 2018 - 8:00 A.M. - Room 315
HB 62NM-GROWN PRODUCE IN SCHOOL MEALSHall
HB 65WASTEWATER SYSTEM FINANCINGCrowder
HB 66WASTEWATER PROJECT FUNDING ELIGIBILITYCrowder
HB 93DRINKING WATER SYSTEM FINANCINGMcCamley
HB 156LEA & ROOSEVELT WEATHER MODIFICATIONWooley
Thursday, January 25, 2018 - 1:30 p.m. - Room 309
HB 18THREE STRIKES ENHANCEMENTGentry
HB 19INCREASE PENALTY FOR FELON WITH FIREARMGentry
HB 21LAW ENFORCEMENT PROTECTION FUND DISTRIBUTIONSGentry
HB 27CHANGE PAROLE TO SUPERVISED RELEASERehm
HB 28VIOLENT FELONIES FOR SENTENCINGRehm
HB 52AUTO RECYCLER ELECTRONIC REPORTING TO TRDYoungblood
Thursday, January 25, 2018 - 1:30 p.m. - Room 317
HJM 6VW SETTLEMENT FUNDS FOR ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSESRoybal Caballero
HB 36REINSTATE SOLAR MARKET DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDITCA Trujillo
HB 77 ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM TAX CREDITSSariñana
Thursday, January 25, 2018 - - Room 315
HM 4PARENTAL PAID-LEAVE PROGRAM
Thursday, January 25, 2018 - 1:30 p.m. - Room 315
HB 39SCHOOL DISTRICT TAX REVENUE DISTRIBUTIONYoungblood
HB 81TRADITIONAL HISTORIC COMMUNITY QUALIFICATIONSGonzales
HB 117LIBRARIAN & HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUNDSD Armstrong
Thursday, January 25, 2018 - 8:45 AM - Room 309
HB 47TAX REFUND FOR NATIONAL GUARD ELIGIBILITYRodella
HB 89LOS LUNAS MEDICAL CENTER CEMETERY SURVEYBaldonado
HB 129BIENNIAL BUDGET PILOT PROJECTHall
HB 149NATIVE AMERICAN INCOME TAX SETTLEMENT FUNDAlcon
HB 166RIO GRANDE GORGE BRIDGE SECURITY PRESENCEGonzales
Thursday, January 25, 2018 - 9:00 a.m. - Room 317
HB 3DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATION ACTGonzales