Organ Mountain News report

SANTA FE - The New Mexico House of Representatives approved two bills aimed at worker pay and consumer protection, sending them to the Senate for consideration.

House Bill 22, which passed 62-5, would amend the state’s Minimum Wage Act to ensure service workers receive the full amount of tips left by customers on credit cards. The bill would prohibit businesses from deducting credit card processing fees from tipped income.

“Hardworking New Mexicans deserve to keep the tips they earn from customers,” said Rep. Art De La Cruz, D-Albuquerque, the bill’s lead sponsor.

Other sponsors include Reps. Yanira Gurrola, D-Albuquerque, Joshua Hernandez, R-Rio Rancho, Patricia Roybal Caballero, D-Albuquerque, Majority Whip Day Hochman-Vigil, D-Albuquerque, and Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque.

House Bill 26, which passed 41-26, would prohibit the for-profit resale of tickets for events hosted by the state, municipalities or nonprofit organizations. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Kathleen Cates, D-Rio Rancho, and House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe.

“Internet scammers are targeting New Mexicans with overpriced tickets for public events by reselling tickets to state and nonprofit events for far more than the tickets’ original cost,” Cates said.

Both bills are part of a broader legislative effort, led by House Democrats, to address the cost of living, worker wages and consumer protections.