Days remaining in session: 7

Social promotion: Two bills that would end "social promotion" of New Mexico elementary school children cleared the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 96, sponsored by Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, was amended by the committee to include provisions giving parents the right to oppose retention if they get involved in school interventions for their children. A number of Democrats had criticized the bill in its original form, insisting that it include provisions allowing parents to intervene to get their kids promoted from the third grade to the fourth grade even if they can't read at a minimal level.

The committee then voted 5-4 to approve that legislation.

Senate Bill 50, sponsored by Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, also came up for debate. Its original form called for possible retentions of students only with parental approval for grades one through eight in both reading and math.

But the committee amended the bill to remove math as a subject in which first-grade through third-grade students have to be proficient in to advance. The amendment kept math as a subject that fourth-grade through eighth-grade students must be proficient in to advance.

The amended bill passed the committee on a 6 to 3 vote.

"Defense of Marriage" withdrawn: The sponsor of a proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union of a man and a woman has withdrawn the legislation.

Rep. David Chavez, R-Los Lunas, had introduced House Joint Memorial 22. But Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, who chairs the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee, said Thursday that Chavez had withdrawn the measure.

Current New Mexico law does not allow same-sex marriage. But some social conservatives want to put the definition into the state constitution to assure no future Legislature legalizes gay marriage.

Similar legislation in past years has routinely failed, often tabled in Chasey's committee.

Limited driver's licenses: The Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation by a 6-0 vote Wednesday that would issue limited ignition-interlock licenses to certain individuals, according to a news release.

Senate Bill 71, sponsored by Sen. Vernon Asbill, R-Carlsbad, would amend New Mexico's Ignition Interlock Licensing Act to allow the state to issue a limited license to a person who has served his or her sentence for certain convictions, including vehicular homicide and causing great bodily harm by vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Currently, a driver convicted of homicide by vehicle or great bodily injury by vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs cannot obtain an ignition-interlock license, the news release said. Asbill said the bill, if it becomes state law, would give a person convicted on those charges the opportunity to obtain an ignition-interlock license so they could go to their jobs, to school or to attend a treatment program, the news release said.

Review state constitution? The House of Representatives passed legislation 68-0 Wednesday that would create a commission to review and suggest changes to the New Mexico Constitution. The commission created by House Bill 151, sponsored by Rep. Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, would also compare New Mexico's constitution to constitutions in other states, according to a news release.

Dozens of constitutional amendments have been proposed in recent years, and the bill is a response to the need for a comprehensive and systematic review of the constitution as a whole, Cervantes said.

Under the legislation, the commission would be composed of 15 voting members and two advisory, nonvoting members -- the chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court and the attorney general. The speaker of the House of Representatives, the president pro tem of the Senate, the governor and the New Mexico legislative council would appoint members to the commission, according to the bill.

Bemis confirmed: The Senate has confirmed John Bemis as secretary of the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

Bemis, an attorney with experience in oil and natural gas law, won confirmation unanimously in the Senate on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, was the only vote against Bemis when the Rules Committee recommended his confirmation. Wirth questioned Bemis about his support for renewable energy and his views on the power of counties to restrict oil and gas production.

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez appointed Bemis to the Cabinet-level job last March. He previously served in the State Land Office as assistant commissioner for oil, gas and mineral resources.

Bemis graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Spaceflight liability: Members of the New Mexico House and Senate have likely shelved for this session an effort to exempt spacecraft manufacturers from legal liability in case spaceflight passengers are injured in future flights from Spaceport America.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the House Business and Industry Committee voted 6-5 Tuesday to hold the bill. The sponsor, Rep. James White of Albuquerque, said the proposal is likely done for this session. Earlier in the day, the Senate Judiciary Committee took no action on a similar bill.

Spaceport America officials have requested the extra legal protection through 2018. They say it's necessary to attract new aerospace parts suppliers to establish their operations near Las Cruces at the developing spaceport.

Looking ahead: A bill that would unlock nearly $2 million in low-interest loans for New Mexico small businesses might be heard on the Senate floor Thursday. Senate Bill 189, sponsored by Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort, R- Sandia Park, would help the New Mexico Economic Development Department access $1.9 million worth of development funds for economic development projects around the state, a news release said. Currently, the department doesn't have the authority to spend that money.






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