I’ve written about several already, but here is a rundown of some other interesting proposals made by
Outlawing cell phones while driving
Rep. Antonio Lujan, D-Las Cruces, has introduced House Bill 241, which would outlaw talking on a cell phone while driving in
Same-day voter registration
Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, has introduced House Bill 394, which would allow same-day registration and voting in primary and general elections in
Female veterans’ license plates
Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, has introduced House Bill 365, which would create a special state license plate for female armed forces veterans. The plate would cost $7 for female veterans of the armed forces, and would contain the words “Women Veterans Serve Proudly.”
Additional oversight of superintendents
Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces, has introduced House Bill 485, which would grant local school boards more oversight of superintendents. The bill would stipulate that school boards must approve administrative action proposed by superintendents in districts with a population of greater than 10,000 students. The bill would also allow local boards in districts with more than 10,000 students to suspend superintendents and take over administration. School board members from around the state have complained since a law enacted several years ago prohibited them from interfering in the administration of their districts.
Suspension of school board members
Sen. Cynthia Nava, D-Las Cruces, has introduced Senate Bill 207, which would allow the state secretary of education to suspend local school board members for “malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty or violation of the oath of office.” The secretary already has authority to suspend an entire board, a superintendent or a principal in certain situations, so this bill would expand slightly on that authority. School board members in the
Restricting eminent domain
Sen. Leonard “Lee” Rawson, R-Las Cruces, has introduced Senate Joint Resolution 3, which would propose a constitutional amendment to voters that would outlaw the use of eminent domain in New Mexico for the purpose of economic development or the benefit of private commercial interests, even “on grounds that the public will benefit from a more profitable private use.”
Requiring formal withdrawal letters
Sen. Dianna Duran, R-Tularosa, has introduced Senate Bill 342, which would require candidates who desire to withdraw from races to file signed, notarized letters with the secretary of state. This has been a hot topic since the secretary of state accepted last year a statement to the press, submitted by the governor’s office, as a formal withdrawal by Jeff Armijo, who had been the Democratic Party’s nominee for state auditor. Before that, the secretary of state had required signed, notarized letters, but nothing in law requires it.