As of March 1, 2018, the State of New Mexico required that anyone preparing or serving food sold to the public, including volunteers with charitable organizations, must take costly courses and be certified. Rep. Rebecca Dow, Legislative District 38, announced that she worked hard to ensure volunteer groups would not be negatively affected by this regulation. The state has recently decided to exempt volunteer and charitable organizations from this regulation. Only paid food industry employees must take the training and test. So, nonprofit and charitable organizations may hold their bake sales and enchilada dinners without anyone having to be certified. This decision came down after many had already paid for and/or taken the training.