by Lawrence Baker | Jul 20, 2026 | Legal and Regulatory Alerts, Manage My Restaurant
UPDATE: In a new development, the Senate’s Continuing Resolution includes a short delay to the upcoming federal hemp restrictions — pushing the effective date from November 12 to December 11, 2026. Senators rejected an amendment to remove the delay, keeping today’s...
by Lawrence Baker | Jun 23, 2026 | Alerts, Manage My Restaurant, Restaurant Regulations
The New Mexico Environment Department has updated parts of the food establishment rules that affect permits, renewals, plan review, and reinspections. You will remember that NMRA fought this change. We testified and sent more than 80 letters in opposition to the...
by Lawrence Baker | Feb 23, 2026 | Industry Voice, Legal and Regulatory Alerts, Member News
The 2026 legislative session has officially wrapped up, and the good news for restaurants is that no major legislation directly affecting our industry advanced this year. The proposed liquor excise tax bill did not even receive a hearing, so there are no new liquor...
by Lawrence Baker | Jan 19, 2026 | Industry Voice, Legislative Alerts, Manage My Restaurant
At noon on Tuesday, January 20, the New Mexico Legislature convened its 30-day “budget” session — a short, fast-paced period largely focused on the state’s financial priorities. However, many expect the agenda to extend far beyond the budget. Because this is Governor...
by Lawrence Baker | May 15, 2025 | Industry Voice, Legal and Regulatory Alerts
The New Mexico Restaurant Association respectfully submits these comments in response to the Proposed Heat Illness and Injury Prevention Rule. We firmly oppose the Proposed Rule in its current form. It represents an ill-conceived, one-size-fits-all regulatory approach...
by Lawrence Baker | Jan 13, 2025 | BLOG, Legislative Alerts
The Unintended Consequences of Paid Family Medical Leave As we enter 2025, the push for paid family medical leave (PFML) continues to gain momentum. However, beneath the surface of this seemingly benevolent initiative lies a complex web of unintended consequences that...
