New Mexico Senate votes on liquor, redistricting, tax breaks

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - In their second-to-last week of the 60-day Legislative session, lawmakers are moving fast.

Here’s a look at the major votes taken on Tuesday.

- The Senate voted 22-13 to allow for public financing of candidates seeking to serve as judges. New Mexico already allows public financing for campaigns for the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. The new law would extend financing to campaigns for lower courts, likely the first in the nation to do so.

- A plan to determine boundaries for congressional districts passed unanimously 39-0. Democratic leadership promised that the process would be non-partisan. Under the plan, redistricting maps will be drawn by an independent board, and the legislature would decide which one to adopt.

- Senators also voted unanimously 39-0 to examine industry tax breaks aimed at creating jobs, to see if they really work. If signed into law, tax break recipients would have additional reporting requirements. Industries receiving $10 million or more would be subject to a review by the Taxation and Revenue Department.

That would expose the state’s top tax-break earners to additional scrutiny including the largest, the film industry. Averaging around $70 million in tax breaks per year, the amount is expected to increase to $145 million by 2023. Other top tax breaks likely to be reviewed if the bill moves forward include those for manufacturing, specialized high-wage jobs, and locomotive engine fuel.

The bills will all be sent to the House for consideration.

The Senate also passed a House bill that would allow for alcohol delivery.

Separately, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill waiving liquor license fees to support the state’s struggling restaurants and bars.

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Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.