LAS CRUCES - The first marijuana legalization bills of the 2021 New Mexico legislative session were introduced this week in the state Senate, with legislation coming from members of both parties.
Senate Bill 13, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, D-Albuquerque, and Senate Bill 288, sponsored by Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, would both establish new state commissions to tax and regulate marijuana sales. SB 13 would have a higher tax rate, with local governments taking a share.
Rep. Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, who has led the legalization effort in the House, filed his own legislation Monday, Feb. 1. His bill in 2019 cleared the House on a 36-34 vote but died in the Senate Finance Committee. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has made marijuana legalization one of her top priorities for the session.
GOP court request denied
A request by House Republicans to block new rules put in place by House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, following positive COVID-19 tests has been denied by the state Supreme Court.
Instead of a temporary stay, which had been requested, the court ordered an expedited response to the petition by Feb. 7.
Egolf imposed the new restrictions last week after it was announced that one Republican House member and four staffers had tested positive for COVID-19. The new rules require all ongoing debate to be conducted over the Internet and placed new restrictions on who can be on the House floor. Republican leaders say those restrictions are a violation of their constitutional rights.
Financial literacy bill advances
A bill that would require New Mexico students to have a basic understanding of budgets; checking and savings accounts; and loans passed unanimously Monday in the House Consumer and Economic Development Committee.
The bill would require that half the mandated mathematics units needed for graduation be composed of a financial management course. It would take effect for students starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year.
HB 163 passed the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee with a unanimous 10-0 vote, and will be heard next in the House Education Committee. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Willie Madrid, D-Chaparral, and Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Albuquerque.