Following questions about campaign spending practices and the conviction of former Secretary of State Diana Duran for misuse of campaign contributions, a new unit is being created to better enforce and explain the state’s campaign finance laws to legislators and other candidates. Current Secretary of State Brad Winter is creating the Education, Ethics, and Compliance Unit to more closely monitor campaign spending and to answer any questions legislators might have.

Previously, only two staffers covered the campaign filings of over 100 legislators, candidates, and other state and county officials. Additional staffers are being brought in, with each monitoring around 20 legislators.

Winter also released a new lobbyist training guide, and offered webinars to be held prior to the Legislature’s next session, which begins on January 19.

Former Secretary of State Dianna Duran was sentenced to over seven years in jail, with all but 30 days suspended, and was ordered to pay $14,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to felony embezzlement charges. Duran, who siphoned money from her election account to fuel a gambling addiction, was also ordered to perform 2,000 hours of community service.

As part of her plea agreement, Duran has until December 16, 2015 to withdraw her guilty plea and go to trial. If she does not withdraw her guilty plea, she must report to jail by December 18, 2015.

State House Democrats announced their plan to introduce a package of bills aimed at creating an independent ethics commission, overhauling the state’s lobbyist and campaign finance reporting systems, and strengthening forfeiture penalties for corrupt officials.

Following the scandal of former Secretary of State Dianna Duran involving fraud and embezzlement, the state lawmakers plan on introducing the bills in the upcoming legislative session as a way to promote trust and transparency.

Pre-filing of proposed legislation can begin on December 15, and the 2016 legislative session will open on January 19.

After state lawmakers voiced concerns about problems with the state’s lobbyist reporting system, Secretary of State Mary Quintana intends to clarify campaign finance and lobbying rules.

Members of the Legislature became concerned after reports exposed confusion about what is required under the reporting system.

Quintana admitted to shortcomings in the law, and vowed to work with lawmakers and others to create new, less ambiguous rules.

Dianna Duran resigned as New Mexico’s Secretary of State late Thursday evening, the day before she was due to appear in court on embezzlement and other charges. Duran previously pleaded not guilty to allegations she funneled campaign funds into personal accounts and later used those funds at area casinos.

Her guilty plea, entered this morning, can be withdrawn if the judge decides to impose a prison sentence. The plea agreement requires Duran to pay $14,000 in restitution to campaign donors and to undergo treatment for gambling addiction.

A spokesman for the governor’s office stated Deputy Secretary of State Mary Quintana will serve as acting secretary of state until the governor can make an appointment.

New Mexico’s Secretary of State pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the misuse of campaign funds. Dianna Duran is accused of funneling campaign contributions into personal accounts, filing false campaign finance disclosures, and using the funds to frequent casinos.

Amid pressure to resign, Duran’s attorney said she has not been convicted of a crime and will remain the sitting secretary of state. State legislators will meet later this month to begin an investigation as part of impeachment proceedings.

The New Mexico Legislature ended a one-day special session yesterday, June 8, 2015.

It took lawmakers just four hours to resolve issues with a $295 million public works funding bill.

The next regular session of the legislature is scheduled to convene in January, typically on the third Tuesday of the month.

Photo of the New Mexico State Capitol by Urban on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Susana Martinez has called for a special session to begin today, June 8, 2015.

Lawmakers will reconvene to continue work on a public works package they were unsuccessful in passing during the regular legislative session.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez is hopeful the session will only last one day.

Gov. Susana Martinez and leaders of the House and Senate have agreed to a special session.

The session will focus on three pieces of legislation, including funding for state highways, senior centers, and higher education.

The governor will officially announce the special session soon, but the expected start date is June 8, 2015.

Gov. Susana Martinez has signed House Bill 155 to require increased lobbyist registration fees and additional public access to lobbyist information. Amendments to the bill stripped out provisions requiring issue disclosure and lobbyist employer reporting.

Effective June 19, 2015, lobbyist registration fees will double to $50 per client and the Secretary of State’s Office website will be required to provide public access to lobbyist registrations and reports.

Martinez has until April 10 to act on legislation.

The Legislature adjourned sine die on Saturday, March 21, 2015. Before adjourning, lawmakers passed House Bill 155 to require increased lobbyist registration fees and additional public access to lobbyist information.

Gov. Susana Martinez has until April 10 to act on legislation. Any bill failing to reach her desk is now dead.

Photo of the New Mexico State Capitol by Urban on Wikimedia Commons.

Sen. Phil Griego (D) resigned his seat with only a week remaining in the current legislative session. Griego is the subject of an ethics investigation arising from his role as a broker for the Inn of the Five Graces after helping pass legislation to sell the state-owned building.

Griego has acknowledged violating a state constitutional provision prohibiting lawmakers from having any interest in a contract authorized by the Legislature.

Gov. Susana Martinez has requested a nominee to be named by Sunday, March 23, 2015, to fill the Senate District 39 seat.

The House unanimously passed a bill requiring lobbyists to disclose more information, but in a different form than the introduced version. House Bill 155 requires lobbyists to disclose the issues they are advocating and doubles registration fees to $50.

Originally, the bill included provisions requiring estimated expense reports and reports on the recipients of certain types of payments. When the legislation stalled in committee, the two provisions were removed to enable the bill to move forward.

An attempt to reintroduce the provisions failed by a vote of 33-30.

Photo of the New Mexico State Capitol by Urban on Wikimedia Commons.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez (D) is sponsoring a bill to eliminate the state’s campaign contribution limits. Senate Bill 689 repeals the 2009 law enacting the first-ever limits on how much candidates and committees can raise per election.

Sanchez believes the limits encourage big donors to funnel money to independent expenditure committees, resulting in less transparency.

The bill is currently pending in the Senate Rules Committee.