A major transparency bill that would create a “sunshine portal” passed the Senate unanimously Friday afternoon. The sunshine portal is described as an online version of the state’s checkbook, showing information about state spending, including state contracts and state employee salaries.

It now goes to the House.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, played the first line of the song “My Girl” by the Temptations to kick off debate. “I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day,” his laptop played while he held his microphone near the speakers.

The bill was amended by Sen. John Ryan, R-Albuquerque, to include language that would require the names of exempt employees to be disclosed. Previously, the legislation only required a directory of all employee positions, “including exempt employee positions, by state agency, showing each position’s title and salary.”

“This is a work in progress,” Rue said when asked by Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales, about the cost of creating a comprehensive Web site. “Over time, it will evolve.”

Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, echoed Rue, saying, “This is a step by step process and we are first going to link together the things that we have out there.”

As The Independent reported earlier in the session, the bill comes at a time when state government is under extra scrutiny following several scandals that have rocked the state’s political class. Those scandals include several federal and state criminal investigations into deals involving various state agencies and several elected officials.

“The Sunshine Portal is an idea whose time has come.” Lt. Gov. Denish said in a statement after the bill passed. “This type of openness and transparency is a major step forward for New Mexico.”