The First Session of the 58th Legislature

January 4-15, 2027: Legislation may be prefiled
January 19: Opening day (noon)
February 18: Deadline for introduction
March 20: Session ends (noon)
April 9: Legislation not acted upon by governor is pocket vetoed*
June 18: Effective date of legislation not a general appropriation bill or a bill carrying an emergency clause or other specified date
*Dependent on 2026 Constitutional Amendment outcome

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Smith calls for gas tax hike to pay for roadwork (SF New Mex)

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Smith calls for gas tax hike to pay for roadwork

    Posted: Thursday, February 5, 2015 7:00 pm | Updated: 11:07 pm, Thu Feb 5, 2015.

    By Patrick Malone
    The New Mexican     | 3 comments

    An influential Democrat in the state Legislature known for his middle-of-the road fiscal pragmatism ripped Gov. Susana Martinez’s plan to spend $300 million on highway construction over the next five years, calling it “irresponsible.”

    Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, who is regarded as a moderate for frequently breaking party ranks to side with Republicans, said he is worried that the governor’s approach would leave behind a legacy of debt.

    Smith said he will soon introduce his own plan to pay for projects on state and local roads with a 5-cents-a-gallon increase in the gasoline tax by 2019 and higher fees for long-haul interstate trucks.

    Read more here: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/smith-calls-for-gas-tax-hike-to-pay-for-roadwork/article_b06cbf0a-a805-5cab-91ea-4c9aae902574.html