Sec. of State Maggie Toulouse is using her rulemaking authority over all persons, candidates, and committees covered by the Campaign Reporting Act by proposing a draft campaign finance rule.

Similar to Senate Bill 96, a bill vetoed by Gov. Susana Martinez after the 2017 regular session, the proposed rule requires groups spending more than $1,000 for political advertising to file a report detailing the expense and the name and address of each contributor of more than $200 in the previous 12 months earmarked or made in response to a solicitation. If passed, the rule will become effective October 3, 2017.

The notice and proposed rule are available at http://www.sos.state.nm.us/Elections_Data/notice-of-proposed-rulemaking.aspx.

The first special session of the 2017 New Mexico Legislature adjourned sine die on May 30, 2017.

Gov. Susana Martinez signed legislation reinstating funding for higher education and vetoed a bill raising taxes.

Both the House and Senate were in session for less than one hour.

Gov. Susana Martinez has called a special session for May 24, 2017.

According to the proclamation, the special session is called to enact legislation concerning the budget, tax reform, and nominees for the appointment to the Board of Regents for state higher education institutions.

Per New Mexico law, all legislators are prohibited from soliciting a campaign contribution beginning when a proclamation has been issued and ending when the special session adjourns.

The adjournment date has yet to be determined.

Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed ethics and campaign finance bills.

Senate Bill 393 would have required lobbyists to report expenses on lawmakers and other public officials under $100. Martinez stated she supports transparency, but thought the bill was unclear and could have several unintended consequences.

Additionally, Martinez vetoed Senate Bill 96 which would have required disclosure of “dark-money” campaign spending by nonprofit groups. Martinez vetoed the legislation because it may discourage charities from advocating for their causes.

Despite the 2017 regular session adjourning on March 18th, Gov. Susana Martinez will likely call a special session.

Martinez does not like the budget proposed to her by the Legislature and has warned of potential furloughs if a new budget is not passed soon.

The special session date has yet to be determined.

On September 29, 2016, Gov. Susana Martinez called a special session for September 30, 2016. The long-awaited proclamation will focus on fixing budget shortfalls and restoring the death penalty.

The ban on fundraising during regular or special session is a major concern for New Mexico legislators as the general election is on November 8, 2016. Per New Mexico law, all legislators are prohibited from soliciting a campaign contribution beginning when a proclamation has been issued and ending when the special session adjourns.

The adjournment date has yet to be determined.

Photo of Gov. Susana Martinez by the New Mexico State Government on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Susana Martinez has set a date for a special election to replace interim Secretary of State Brad Winter. Winter, who was appointed to the position following the resignation of former Secretary Dianna Duran, declined to seek election to the remainder of the four-year term.

A special primary election will be held June 7, 2016. The special general election is scheduled for November 8, 2016.

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.

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.

Attorney General Gary King received more than 33 percent of the vote in a field of five candidates to win the Democratic nomination for governor. King will face a general election match-up with Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Martinez, a former district attorney from Las Cruces, was elected the state’s first female governor and the nation’s first female Hispanic governor in 2010.

King, a former state legislator and son of former Gov. Bruce King, raised about $476,000 for his gubernatorial bid since October. More than half of the contributions were in the form of King’s personal loans to the campaign.

During the same period, Martinez raised more than $2.4 million in campaign contributions.