New Mexico lawmakers don’t get a salary. Some say it’s time for a paycheck
SANTA FE, N.M. — Members of the New Mexico Legislature are the only state lawmakers in the country not paid a salary for their services, but voters could change that if a referendum on giving lawmakers a fixed salary gains momentum.
A Democratic-sponsored initiative to provide New Mexico lawmakers with regular salaries won its first committee approval Friday, despite the objections of Republicans in the legislative minority.
The proposed constitutional amendment would remove a ban on lawmakers’ salaries and create an independent commission to set and adjust future pay for the state’s 112 lawmakers. Similar proposals have stalled in recent years.
Salary figures are not specified and would be determined later by a nine-member “Citizen Commission on Legislative Salaries.” The salaries would come into effect from July 2026.
Currently, New Mexico lawmakers do receive mileage reimbursements for travel and a daily allowance for expenses such as room and board during legislative sessions. Those with at least ten years of service are eligible for partial retirement benefits at a subsidized rate through a public employee pension fund.
Proponents of legislative pay in New Mexico say they are looking for ways to bring greater professionalism and make elected office more accessible to people with limited economic resources.
“I know there is great pride in being a ‘citizen legislature,’” said Democratic state Rep. Angelica Rubio of Las Cruces, co-sponsor of the initiative. “I believe we are giving a lot of people the opportunity not to represent their community.
“It is a privilege to serve in the Legislature, but it is much more of a ‘privilege’ when it comes to finances and when someone cannot afford to do so,” she said.
Republican state Rep. Martin Zamora of Clovis voted against the initiative in committee, expressing unease with a referendum on unspecified salaries.
“We’re going to ask the public to vote on this resolution, but they’re not really getting the facts,” said Zamora, a farmer. “What if we gave ourselves an outrageous amount of money for this work, and the citizens said, ‘Hey, I didn’t vote for that.’”
Already this year, state lawmakers in Alaska received a 67% salary increase and the governor of New Jersey signed off on legislative salary increases, amid concerns about rising costs and efforts to attract younger people or those with families to serve as lawmakers and serve.
In New Mexico, a three-fifths vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate would ensure the proposed constitutional amendment would receive a statewide vote in November.
A separate referendum proposal would extend the Legislature’s short 30-day term to 60 days in even-numbered years.