An alliance of more than a dozen New Mexico environmental groups will lobby again for legislative approval of a 1 percent sales tax — or "sin tax" — on new televisions and video games to fund outdoor education programs. Such a tax could raise an estimated $4 million a year, according to a legislative study. The money would fund programs aimed at teaching students outdoors.
The proposed excise tax died in committee last year, but the Legislature approved $270,000 for a related project, establishing an Outdoor Classroom program between New Mexico State Parks and the state Public Education Department.