New Mexico Lawmaker Proposes Strip Club Tariff

ALBEQUERQUE, N.M. – Senator John Grubesic (D-Santa Fe) wants to tax strip club patrons as part of a plan to address a potential budget crunch.

“This is in no way making any comment on strip clubs — whether we don't need them, whether we need them,” Grubesic told KOAT Albuquerque News. “I just thought of it as an alternative source to come up with some revenue.”

Modeled on a similar law that went into effect Jan. 1 in Texas, Senate Bill 64 proposes a mandatory five- dollar door charge at strip clubs to benefit the state’s sexual crimes prosecution and treatment fund.

“It's five dollars,” continued Grubesic. “That's nothing. I think beer in these places runs around five bucks.”

Capitol Hill lawmakers will discuss the bill on Monday.