Big bills die as Legislature adjourns

SANTA FE (KRQE) - It's over. The legislative session in Santa Fe adjourned at this noon hour leaving some big issues for next time and facing a possible special session if the governor vetoes the budget.

Lawmakers spent the last few hours of the 30-day session scrambling to pass bills and get them to Gov. Susana Martinez for her signature.

One new measure on its way to the governor desk is the capital outlay bill, a statewide list of projects that includes $30 million to begin the makeover of the Interstate 25-Paseo del Norte interchange in Albuquerque.

The social-promotion bill--holding back third graders who don't read at grade level--and repealing driver's licenses for illegal immigrants both died at the stroke of noon.

However, a reform package aimed at restructuring the scandal-plague Public Regulation Commission through a constitutional amendment cleared both houses.

The main focus of 30-day sessions is the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, and lawmakers did pass a $5.6 billion spending plan. However Martinez has threatened to veto it if it doesn't the tax and education reforms she wants.

Martinez has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference.

There's much more still to sort out from the end of the session, and KRQE News 13's Katie Kim will wrap up those events on News 13 at 5:30 p.m.