Legislative roundup.

Days remaining in session: 18Hoops 4 Hope: Trash talking in the Legislature is likely to escalate before lunchtime.

That’s because the Senate and the House of Representatives play their annual charity basketball game at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Santa Fe High School gym.

House members, losers of three consecutive games, have a promising newcomer in Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces. But the House lost two of its better players in Republicans Terry McMillan, who was defeated in his bid for reelection, and Conrad James, who didn’t run for re-election.

The Senate, with only 42 members compared to 70 in the House, relies on a small nucleus. Democratic Sens. Bill O’Neill, Bill Soules and Howie Morales are the mainstays.

Admission to the game is free, but donations will be accepted. Proceeds will go to The University of New Mexico’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. In the past six years, the game has raised more than $100,000, according to the center.

Right to try: The House Judiciary Committee has advanced a bill that would establish a process through which doctors could prescribe terminally ill patients new medications that have not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Drug Administration.

House Bill 228, sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, would set eligibility requirements for patients to petition for approval to receive experimental treatments.

“Individuals should have the opportunity to try any available treatment options to prolong their lives,” Dow said in a news release. “This bill preserves a person’s right to pursue life. It promotes hope and it also demonstrates compassion to those patients battling grave illnesses.”

The bill next goes next to the House floor.

Transparency in the House: A House committee on Tuesday gave a thumbs up to a proposed rule change meant to make it easier for the public to follow legislation.

The House Rules and Order of Business Committee voted unanimously for a resolution that would quickly make committee amendments to bills available online and incorporated into the original bill text. The posted document would make clear what text in the bill is original and what language has been added or struck by the amendment.

House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, praised House Resolution 3, sponsored by House Republican Leader Nate Gentry of Albuquerque. “Things can move very fast here at the legislative session, and it is often hard for members of the public to keep track of changes to bills,” Egolf said.

The measure goes to the House Judiciary Committee.

Pirtle clears hurdle: Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, is perhaps best known for his effort to make Mountain Daylight Time permanent and end the state’s practice of springing forward and falling back with daylight saving time. His Senate Bill 239 has cleared another committee. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Monday to advance the bill.

“Summertime all the time not only sounds great, it makes sense,” Pirtle said in a statement.

The bill goes next to the full Senate.

Gasoline tax: The Senate Finance Committee has endorsed a gasoline tax increase to beef up state reserves and provide money for road construction and maintenance.

Senate Bills 95 and 131 would boost the state gas tax by a dime, to 27 cents a gallon from 17 cents, and raise the tax on diesel and special fuels by a nickel, to 26 cents a gallon from 21 cents a gallon. The cost of transferring ownership of a vehicle would rise to 4 percent from 3 percent, with that money going directly into a new fund created specifically for road maintenance.

Unlike the regular road fund, a maintenance fund could not be used to sell bonds and increase borrowing, says the legislation sponsored by Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, and Clemente Sanchez, D-Grants.

Smith said his main concern is boosting general fund reserves to 5 percent of overall spending, and the new money is expected to accomplish that within three years by adding $126 million a year for day-to-day government services.

”We’re trying to build reserves,” Smith said. “I don’t think I have to tell anyone of you we’re in a heck of a mess here.”

But revenues beyond that would be split among a half-dozen other funds for state projects as well as maintenance and transportation work in cities and counties.

With general fund reserves for the state’s $6 billion budget now under 2 percent, Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, said the state will spend millions more on borrowing if its bond rating deteriorates further.

The measure heads to the full Senate.

Rotich honored: The House declared Tuesday “Caroline Rotch Day” in honor of the Kenyan-born long-distance runner who lives and trains in Santa Fe. Her accomplishments include a 2015 victory in the Boston Marathon, in which she plans to compete again in April.

“New Mexico is lucky to have Caroline here as an example of tenacity and athletic excellence,” said Rep. Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque, who introduced the memorial passed unanimously by the House with Rotich and her coach, Ryan Bolton, present.

Looking ahead: Friday is Renewable Energy Day at the Capitol. Sponsors include the New Mexico Solar Energy Association. The Sierra Club will provide training in how to be a renewable energy lobbyist at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Quote of the day: “We write laws here. We don’t write pie in the sky.” — Sen. William Payne, R-Albuquerque, on a proposal to require utility companies to draw a greater share of energy from renewable sources.