Longtime state representative from Santa Fe won’t run again
SANTA FE — Democratic state Rep. Jim Trujillo, chairman of the House Taxation and Revenue Committee, will not seek reelection in 2020 to a new two-year term representing a Santa Fe-based seat.
Trujillo, who will be 81 at the time of next year’s primary election, said Tuesday that he plans to finish his current term but cited health issues as the primary reason for his decision to step down after next year.
“I’m satisfied with the number of years I spent in the Legislature,” he told the Journal.
Trujillo, who was first appointed to the state House in 2003, was the sponsor and primary architect of a tax package approved during this year’s 60-day session that paved the way for state and local governments to start levying a tax on online sales — a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowed states to do so — and requires nonprofit hospitals to pay the same tax rate that other
hospitals do.
In addition, the legislation will likely create a new personal income tax bracket for higherearning New Mexicans, while reducing the tax burden on others by increasing an existing tax credit for working families.
Among other legislative accomplishments, Trujillo cited his work on annual public infrastructure bills, which this year contained $9 million for expanding the Santa Fe Regional Airport.
“I think I did my best to take care of my district,” he said.
Trujillo missed much of the 2017 legislative session because of health problems but returned to cast a House floor vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would have diverted more money from New Mexico’s largest permanent fund for early childhood services.
That measure passed the House but ultimately stalled — as it has in other years — in the Senate.
A business-minded Democrat, Trujillo said he supports overhauling the state’s gross receipts tax by reducing the base rate but does not expect a major effort to address the subject during the 30-day session that starts in January.