Days remaining in session: 1/2

Medical pot funding passes: A bill to set into law a funding mechanism for the state medical marijuana program passed the House on Wednesday and now goes to Gov. Susana Martinez for her signature.

Senate Bill 240, sponsored by Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, would create a Medical Marijuana Fund sustained by the producer and patient production licensing fees currently being collected by the Department of Health.

Supporters stress that this fund would require no additional money because it would come from existing fees.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 38-27. It passed the Senate unanimously earlier in the session.

Independent Public Defender's Office: New Mexico voters in November will decide whether the state Public Defender's Office should become an independent agency or remain under the control of the governor.

The Senate on Wednesday passed a measure placing the proposed constitutional amendment on the general election ballot. The House previously passed House Joint Resolution 26, sponsored by Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, D- Albuquerque.

Sen. Richard Martinez, D-Española, said if the amendment passes, next year's Legislature would determine how the chief public defender would be chosen.

The eye of the pyramid: A bill to help New Mexico's manufacturing and construction industries cleared the Senate on Wednesday night. Senate Bill 276, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, is one of Gov. Martinez's priorities and would amend the state's tax code to stop pyramiding of taxes on services by the construction and manufacturing industries. Pyramiding occurs when businesses are taxed on services that are then incorporated into a final product, which also is taxed.

The governor has said that ending pyramiding would make New Mexico more competitive in recruiting businesses and industries to the state as well as making it more hospitable for investment in general. The move would save the manufacturing and construction industries millions of dollars each year in gross receipts taxes, officials have said.

The legislation headed to the House.

Guns among neighbors: Legislation that would allow New Mexico residents to buy long guns in noncontiguous states cleared the House on Wednesday and headed to the governor's desk, according to a news release.

Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Sen. Minority Whip Bill Payne, D-Albuquerque, passed the House on a 61-6 vote Wednesday night.

The legislation would allow New Mexico residents to purchase long guns in noncontiguous states and allow residents of noncontiguous states to purchase the guns in New Mexico.

Currently, state law only addresses allowing purchases in neighboring states and does not address noncontiguous states, causing confusion.

Because current law does not address sales in noncontiguous states, it has been interpreted by out-of-state firearms dealers as being restrictive, leaving them unwilling to sell long guns to New Mexicans.

The cost of testing: The Senate on Wednesday passed a measure requesting the Legislative Finance Committee, the Legislative Education Study Committee and the Public Education Department to study the costs of testing students in terms of both money and instructional time.

"There are so many tests that our students are given, I believe it is wise to really assess what's going on in the classroom," said Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen. "Teachers are spending an inordinate amount of time testing, and not really and truly teaching."

"Struggling students need more instructional time, and we know at the same time our resources are limited," Sanchez said. "I want to make sure that our kids are getting the best education possible, and it might be the case that this much testing is costing not only the state, but our students."

Don't bet on bike races: In a surprisingly lopsided vote, the Senate voted against a nonbinding memorial that would request the state's congressional delegation to try to amend a federal law to allow pari-mutuel betting on a certain type of bicycle racing.

Senate Memorial 47, sponsored by Sen. John Ryan, R-Albuquerque, wants to bring Keirin-style bicycle racing to the state. The legislation stated that "Keirin is a track cycling event in which racing cyclists sprint for victory that originated in Japan in 1948 and became an Olympic sport in 2000."

But there would be no sprint for Ryan. The measure failed by a 6-36 vote.

Looking ahead: The state Legislature adjourns at noon Thursday. Any bills that have not passed both the House and Senate will die.

Quote of the day: "I have so many stories, I could tell a story about each and every one of you." -- House Speaker Ben Luján, after a tribute to him from past and present House members. Luján is not seeking re-election because he is suffering from lung cancer.