We are in your corner when it comes to minimum wage issues.
So, it’s our job to keep our members informed of the updates as we continue to promote and protect the restaurant industry in New Mexico.
As always, you can keep informed of the status of those by viewing our latest legislative tracker.
Latest from NMRA
Status of Current Bills
New Mexico’s minimum wage will increase to $12 an hour by 2023 – and to $9 an hour next year – under legislation signed into law on April 1, by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Minimum Wage Tipped Wage
1/1/20 – 12/31/20 $ 9.00/hour $2.35/hour
1/1/21 – 12/31/21 10.50/hour 2.55/hour
1/1/22 – 12/31/22 11.50/hour 2.80/hour
1/1/23 12.00/hour 3.00/hour
Student wage: $8.50/hour
No Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases
Summary history of HB 31. View full bill here.
- 4/1 – Gov. Lujan-Grisham signs minimum wage increase into law
- 3/14 – Conference Committee merged HB 31 & SB 437 and advance a hybrid Minimum Wage increase. Tipped wage goes to $2.35 on Jan. 1, 2020.
- 3/5 – HB 31 has been blocked
- 2/25 – Bill amended to include tip credit at 30% of minimum wage, passed out of SPAC, will announce next committee when scheduled
- 2/6 – Schedule for debate on House Floor
- 2/1 – Heard in House Commerce and Economic Development Committee – Passed and moved to House Floor for debate
Summary history of SB 437. View full bill here.
- 4/1 – Gov. Lujan-Grisham signs minimum wage increase into law
- 3/14 – Conference Committee merged HB 31 & SB 437 and advance a hybrid Minimum Wage increase. Tipped wage goes to $2.35 on Jan. 1, 2020.
- 3/12 – NM House Committee introduces a substitute bill that would raise the tip credit to 30% of prevailing minimum wage
- 3/8 – NM Senate Passed SB 437 in a floor vote. Will be Heard by HLVMA Committee next on 3/12/19.
- 3/5 – NM Senate Corporations Committee passes SB 437 which will head to a Senate floor vote next.
- 2/25 – Bill passed out of SPAC, will announce the next committee when scheduled.
Other bills will be updated here as prudent. Get the latest tracker here for a full list of legislation that will affect you.
Why Tipping Works
The most important aspect of tipping, is that servers support the tipping system. Learn more here.
Advocacy Actions Summary
Here’s a summary of just some of our efforts so far, including some action items on what you can do next.
- Hired a legislative specialist to focus on the tip credit and minimum wage issue specifically. Our Government Affairs Director continues to lobby and track this cause and others from Santa Fe.
- Filmed server testimonials at Santa Fe Restaurants. It was vital for us to get their point of view heard. View the video on our homepage here.
- Posting daily and monitoring the conversation on our server centered Facebook page, Serving New Mexico. Join in the conversation!
- Launched Saveourtipsnm.org so servers had a vehicle to easily advocate for themselves and reach legislators
- Launched a text campaign to allow the general public and all advocates to stay informed on these issues and speak up on the livelihood of their favorite servers. Join up by texting TIPS to: 52886.
- Developed two-click process for advocates to send letters to their legislators here.
- Produced “Save our tips” campaign collateral to include t-shirts, buttons, bill inserts, and coasters. We have provided these at many of our advocacy meetings throughout the state. Contact us to get more information.
- Met with the editorial boards of the Santa Fe New Mexican and the Albuquerque Journal to discuss our opposition (especially to HB 31) and how it will affect restaurants and servers alike.
- Continue to advertise and attend committee meetings in the legislature
- Conducted a webinar on Minimum Wage Bills
- Conducted a teleconference for members and advocates to call in on the status of HB 31 and SB 437. Subscribe to our legislative update and vital alerts here.
- Held emergency meetings in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces to update members and advocates on issues.
Printable Flyers and Materials
2019 Tipped Wage Backgrounder_
Articles Regarding Minimum Wage and Tipped Wage
4/1/2019 – Gov. Lujan Grisham signs minimum wage increase into law – ABQ Journal
3/14/2019 – Late night deal reached on Minimum Wage – Santa Fe New Mexican
3/8/2019 – Minimum Wage Bill Debate in Sante; KOB
3/6/2019 – House-approved minimum wage bill derailed in Senate; Las Cruces Sun News
3/6/2019 – Senate panel favors smaller minimum wage increase; Santa Fe New Mexican
2/24/2019 – Dems Back off tipped wage; New Mexico Political Report
2/23/2019 – Op-Ed: Love your server: Support Current Tipping System; Santa Fe New Mexican
2/23/2019 – Opinion: Tips boost a worker’s paycheck beyond minimum; Santa Fe New Mexican
2/11/2019 -Every $1 increase = 14% Closure, Hike in minimum wage prompts more closings of restaurants, Washington Examiner
2/5/2019 – Lujan Grisham not swayed by minimum wage bill critics; Las Cruces Sun News
2/4/2019 – Server’s Point of View – Santa Fe Legislators, please don’t give me a so-called ‘raise’; Las Cruces Sun News
2/4/2019 – Op-Ed: Don’t overlook the Tip Credit – A higher minimum wage is right for New Mexico; Santa Fe New Mexican
2/4/2019 – Lujan Grisham not swayed by wage bill critics; Albuquerque Journal
2/2/2019 – The Governor’s Take – Our minimum wage is too low – Santa Fe New Mexican
2/1/2019 – Committee OKs wage bill despite tip outcry; Albuquerque Journal
2/1/2019 – New Mexico restaurant industry fights wage bill; Santa Fe New Mexican
1/31/2019 – Minimum wage bill draws fire from restaurant owners; Albuquerque Journal
1/17/19 – National Trends on Minimum Wage, Congressional Democrats air plan to kill the tip credit, raise the minimum wage to $15; Restaurant Business
1/14/19 – Server Op-Ed, “Servers do not want a tipped minimum wage increase”; Santa Fe New Mexican
12/18/18 – Pre-Filed Minimum Wage Bills, “Dems look to boost New Mexico’s minimum wage”; Santa Fe New Mexican
