This article has been updated for clarity.
The House is currently debating a bill that would limit campaign contributions for the first time in New Mexico. You can listen here and join the New Mexico Independent’s liveblog by clicking here.
The bill is Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque. It has passed the Senate but was amended in two House committees, so it must go back to the Senate for concurrence if it passes the House. The session ends at noon, and the proposal is controversial, so there’s no certainty it would move through the Senate again before time expires on the session.
The bill would limit contributions to non-statewide candidates for office to $2,300 per election from any entity except a political committee, which could give $5,000. It would limit contributions to statewide candidates for office, political action committees and political parties to $5,000 per election from individuals and groups. There are two elections — a primary and a general — in each election cycle.
New Mexico is currently one of five states without some type of campaign contribution limits.
Listen in and take part in the liveblog if you can.