FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A DECADE, NEW MEXICO’S MINIMUM WAGE WILL BE GOING UP ON JANUARY FIRST. IT’S CURRENTLY 7-50 AN HOUR…BUT WILL INCREASE TO NINE DOLLARS THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. THERE WILL BE INCREASES EACH YEAR UNTIL THE MINIMUM WAGE TOPS OUT AT 12-DOLLARS IN 2023. OTHER NEW LAWS ALSO GO INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY FIRST…INCLUDING ONE THAT EXPANDS THE RANGE OF CRIMINAL RECORDS THAT CAN BE EXPUNGED. ANOTHER LAW WILL CLOSE A TAX LOOPHOLE FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO RENT ROOMS ON A SHORT TERM BASIS THROUGH THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LIKE AIR B-N-B.
