b'2019 State ReportNew Mexico Notes NM BY DAN MCKAY AND DAN BOYD / JOURNAL STAFF WRITERS Legislature 2019: Session SummaryAlbuquerque Journal, Sunday, March 17th, 2019 In the 2018-19 New Mexico Legislative Session, Business Investment Corp.; barring counties from enforcing legislators passed bills with wide-ranging implications for Newlocal right-to-work ordinances.Mexicos future. The 2019 legislative session was one of theFailed: Capping interest rates for payday loans at 36 percent.busiest in recent state history. Here is a summary of some of the legislation debated during the 60-day session: EducationBudget/taxes Passed: Creating a Cabinet-level department of early child-Passed: A $7 billion budget bill with hefty spending increasehood education; repealing the states A-F grading system for for public schools; a broad tax package that increases some taxschools; increasing pay for teachers; establishing four centers rates and expands a working families tax credit; lifting the an- of excellence at colleges and universities; extending school year.nual spending cap on film incentives from $50 million to $110Failed: Implementing a moratorium on new charter schools million; $933 million package for infrastructure projects. around the state through 2021.Failed: Expanding early childhood education by tapping intoEthics/transparencythe Land Grant Permanent Fund; increasing the states gasolinePassed: Setting the powers and procedures of a voter-approved tax rate by 10 cents per gallon; allowing municipalities in theethics commission; requiring lobbyists to start reporting their Oil Patch to impose a 5 percent tenancy tax on long-term renters. cumulative spending on individual meals or other items that Guns cost less than $100 each.Passed: Requiring background checks before nearly anyFailed: Allowing government agencies to withhold the identi-firearm sale; prohibiting gun possession by domestic abusersties of all but three finalists for some public jobs; making it or people subject to an order of protection under the Familyclear that the University of New Mexico Foundation and simi-Violence Protection Act. lar groups must operate in public and release public records Failed: Allowing courts to order the temporary taking of gunsupon request.from someone deemed an immediate threat; criminal penaltiesDrugsfor failing to properly secure firearm arms around children. Passed: Reducing penalties for marijuana possession.Business/labor Failed: Legalizing recreational marijuana through state-run Passed: Raising the statewide minimum wage to $12 an hourstores; making possession of all types of drugs a misdemeanor by 2023; regulating the production, research and manufactur- offense; setting new guidelines on driving under the influence ing of hemp; doubling state investment in the nonprofit Smallof drugs.44 www.wpma.com / Summer 2019'