b'2019 eventsNew Mexico NotescontinuedSB 437, sponsored by Senator Clemente Sanchez (D) wouldin the Tax and Revenue Committee and then on to the floor of the raise the minimum wage to $9.25 per hour in October 2019, andHouse and then on to the Senate. This Bill has a long way to go to $10.00 per hour in April 2020. His bill would allow a lowerand not much time.wage of $8.50 per hour for high school students. Both of theseSB 609 and its companion bill HB 609, which raise the Gasoline Bills would set a sub-minimum wage for waiters and other tippedTax and Special Fuels Tax by $.05 will be heard this week and I employees at 30% of regular minimum wage. Garcia and San- believe both will pass and then go on to their next committees.chez both said there is still room for negotiations. The two Bills now head to Senate Corporations and Transportation CommitteeThere are five bills that increase the Gasoline Excise Tax from where Sanchez is the Chairman. $.05 to $.10 per gallon (HB 609, HB 699, SB 504, SB 609 and HB 6 is the big Tax Bill that is being pushed by the Governor. ItSB 506). All raise the gas tax.should be presented this Monday. There are 2 Bills that raise the Tobacco Tax, up to $1.50 per pack HB 31, sponsored by Rep. Miguel Garcia (D) calls for an(HB 261), and SB 166 will raise the Tobacco Tax by $.36. All increase to $10.00 per hour in July and a phased-in increasethe bills that increase the Gasoline and Tobacco Taxes are being to $12.00 per hour in 2021. There would be inflation-adjustedincorporated into HB 6 (the big tax bill). increases after that. There are 7 Bills that create new liquor licenses; some have HB 492 was heard and passed out of Energy, Environment andalready been tabled in Committee (HB271, HB272, and HB273). Natural Resources Committee on a straight party vote, 7-5. ThisSB 19 and SB 210 passed the Corporations Committee and are Bill is a rework of the 5% Biodiesel mandate that is not enforce- now in the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 78 has passed Senate able in the State because of cost and insufficient amounts ofRules and Corporations Committee and was voted on and passed Biodiesel in the State, but there is still the same problem withthe Senate by 26-8 vote and now goes to the House. SB 79 was this Billthis would add today about $.10-.15 a gallon to Dieseltabled in Corporations Committee.in New Mexico. Also, to blend all Diesel sold in New Mexico at 5%, you would need 25 million gallons of Biodiesel, whenUpcoming Eventstodays availability is only 12 million gallons. The sponsor, Rep.The NMPMA Convention and Trade Showwill be held Small (D) and REG who are supporters of the Bill are now try- August 19-21, 2019, at Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, ing to find a way that they could amend the Bill so that it wouldNew Mexico. Mark your calendars!work. With just 19 days left in this years Session, the bill has only been heard in one committee; it would then need to be heardS2019 eventsUtah UpdatecontinuedMark your calendar! We begin with an after-noon member/board meeting on Wednesday the 11 th , prior to our opening reception and an evening of Supplier hospitality. Thursday (Sept 12) opens with our general business session, followed by our keynote speaker lunch and then an industry trade show. Golf is Friday morning at the beauti-ful Crater Springs Golf Course. Hope to see you there!S52www.wpma.com / Spring 2019WN19 Spring 49-64.indd 52 3/27/19 10:43 AM'