Legislative roundup

Days remaining in the session: 1 House rules: Think of the rules of the state House of Representatives as the traffic code for part of New Mexico’s democratic process. The rules lay out how the chamber passes bills, conducts debates and even how members should dress on the floor (bolo ties are expressly permitted).

The House made a few tweaks to those rules Wednesday.

The changes say that anyone filming or taking photographs of a House committee should be prepared to announce for whom they are filming.

Even though the House’s proceedings are webcast, open to the public and unfold in a Capitol that is operated with tax dollars, the rules of both the House and Senate already give committee leaders discretion in allowing photography.

Senate committees regularly demand that photographers get permission from the chairman before taking pictures.

And many an attendee at committee hearings has been scolded by staff for taking out a phone to get a quick photo of their elected officials doing the people’s business.

In a sign of the times, the rule changes also ask lawmakers to keep their cellphones on silent mode while in the House and strike an old line barring the reading of newspapers on the House floor. The changes repeal, too, an apparently forgotten provision that permits smoking in the chamber and gallery.

Short tempers: State senators often talk about the high level of civility in their interactions. It broke down Wednesday. While debating a bill, Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, took a verbal swipe at a colleague, saying Sen. Mark Moores of Albuquerque lacked an understanding of the details.

“Maybe Senator Moores should read a few bills before he comments,” Muñoz said.

Moores, his voice rising, fired back that the Senate ought to be a place of decorum.

Muñoz is running for state land commissioner. If he wins, the unfriendly jousting with Moores could be their last exchange.

Coal plant bill dead? Rep. Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, put a lot of time, energy, negotiating and general hard-headedness into a bill aimed at easing the economic woes of San Juan County, which could be hit hard when Public Service Company of New Mexico eventually closes the coal-burning San Juan Generating Station.

Montoya was able to get House Bill 325 through the House earlier this week on a bipartisan 44-25 vote. But after the vote, Montoya said, “Time is not on our side.” And he was right. On Wednesday, when the bill went to the Senate, it was assigned to the Conservation Committee.

But there was one major problem. With only hours left in the session, that committee isn’t scheduled to meet. That means, barring any unexpected last-minute action, the bill will die there.

Quote of the day: “This is the best state Senate atmosphere I have ever encountered.” — Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, praising the work of Lt. Gov. John Sanchez, who might be presiding over his final Senate floor session Thursday. Sanchez is in his eighth and final year as lieutenant governor. He would not lead the Senate again unless there is a special legislative session.