More than 100 positions to be created in NM State Legislature

SANTA FE — Get those résumés ready.

In the next year, more than 100 new positions will be created in the New Mexico State Legislature, after the approval of a $6 million appropriation to hire year-round legislative aides. The Legislative Council voted 10-0 to approve an associated measure.

The positions are expected to pay between $60,000 and $75,000. Each legislator eventually will be able to hire an aide, who will help with scheduling and other work throughout the year, and work out of new district offices.

Incumbents running unopposed in the general election can start hiring Sept. 1. Incumbents who win their election can field job candidates in November. Newly elected legislators will have their chance in April.

The measure is part of a “modernization” effort in the Legislature. New Mexico is the last state legislature in the country where representatives serve on a volunteer basis — a system that Speaker of the House Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, said was “romanticized.” It can be difficult, he said, to manage scheduling and all the responsibilities of a legislator while still working another job.

“We’re dealing with issues of the 21st century with a 19th-century process,” Martínez said. “(The movement) today took a big step forward by ensuring that every legislator will now have a full-time staff person to help them better represent their constituents.”

The $6 million approved in this fiscal year’s budget is insufficient to run the entire program — thus, the staggered approach to hiring. In total, between $12 million and $16 million will be needed, Martínez said.

It’s taken several years to get approval for legislative aides. In 2023, the Legislative Council Service commissioned a study to research what bringing on support staff for lawmakers would look like. Three models were proposed in the report, each including a different number of staffers — and different total costs.

Besides the more than 100 legislative aides, the appropriation will go toward hiring a handful of “legislative liaisons” and support staffers in the Roundhouse.

The appropriation also covers IT costs and other incidentals to run a district office, including furniture.

Raúl Burciaga, director of Legislative Council Services, said Monday that public buildings are preferred, and several entities throughout the state have already offered spaces for low or no cost.

Allen Martinez, R-Bernalillo, said he “struggled” with his decision on the measure. “I am not a big fan of increasing state government,” he said.

But Allen Martinez said it would be nice to have a place to meet constituents other than a coffee shop. Although the district offices would be intended for aides, Burciaga said there have been discussions about whether legislators also need designated office space.

Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, said there would be time to iron out some of the details.

“We meet every three or four months,” Stewart said. “We will be discussing this issue for years.”