LEGISLATURE
Voters to decide whether New Mexico legislators should be paid a salary
Senate narrowly approves proposed constitutional amendment that would take effect in 2029
Published
SANTA FE — New Mexico voters will decide in November whether state lawmakers should — starting in 2029 — shed their label as the nation's only unsalaried Legislature.
Just before midnight Tuesday, the Senate voted 23-19 to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would remove a prohibition on legislative pay that has been in place since New Mexico became a state in 1912.
The proposal, House Joint Resolution 5, won approval in the House just four days earlier. If approved by voters, it would tie lawmakers' pay to the state's gross median annual income, with future increases connected to inflation. That amount was set at $64,140 as of 2024.
"We want all New Mexicans to be able to serve," said Sen. Cynthia Nava, D-Bernalillo, who said voters were last asked in the 1990s about whether lawmakers should be paid.
While the idea of paying state lawmakers a salary is not new, this year's push was led by a group of young female legislators who spoke openly about their experiences at the Roundhouse and struggles to balance jobs, family obligations and legislative service. New Mexico's Legislature became majority-female for the first time after the 2024 election cycle.
Sen. Angel Charley, D-Acoma Pueblo, said she put 40,000 miles on her vehicle traveling her district last year, and said serving in the Legislature is not feasible for many New Mexicans.
"Can a young leader with student debt and multiple jobs say yes to public service?" she asked rhetorically during Tuesday evening's debate.
"When representation narrows, democracy shrinks," Charley added.
However, opponents of the proposal said paying lawmakers a salary would fundamentally change the nature of the Legislature. Many lawmakers currently hold outside jobs when they are not in session in Santa Fe.
Meanwhile, critics also pointed out New Mexico's longstanding struggles with poverty, crime and low standing in national education measures.
"If this was a private sector organization with this track record, we'd all be fired," said Sen. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs. "And we'd deserve to be."
But several attempts to amend the legislation were unsuccessful, including proposal from Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, to connect term limits of no more than 16 years in office to the salary plan.
The vote ultimately broke down largely along party lines, with four Democrats — Sens. Pete Campos of Las Vegas, Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces, George Muñoz of Gallup and Shannon Pinto of Tohatchi — joining most Republicans in opposing the measure.
Sen. Joshua Sanchez of Bosque was the lone Republican to vote in support of the plan, which would allow lawmakers who don't wish to be paid a salary to opt out.
New Mexico is currently the only state that does not pay its legislators a salary, though lawmakers do receive a per diem payment — currently set at $202 per day — for food and lodging expenses. They can also qualify for a legislative pension plan.
Legislative salary levels in other states range from $100 per year in New Hampshire to $142,000 per year in New York, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
"I think we need to stop being the outlier," said Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, during Tuesday's debate.
The idea of paying New Mexico legislators a salary is one of several modernization proposals that have gathered momentum in recent years. The Legislature has expanded webcasting of all floor sessions and committee hearings, and recently began allowing all lawmakers to have a paid legislative aid.
But previous attempts to allow lawmakers to be paid a salary fell short at the Roundhouse, prompting advocates to shift their strategy this year.
Instead of proposing an outside commission be created to decide how much lawmakers should be paid, this year's plan ditched an outside body in favor of the market-driven approach.
The retooled strategy might have paid off at the Roundhouse, but backers will still have to convince statewide voters to follow suit.
Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.
