The Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023
Paid Family Medical Leave bill set for Senate floor vote
A bill that would raise payroll taxes for both employees and employers and provide for up to three months of paid leave for all New Mexico employees has passed through committee and will be heard on the Senate floor sometime this week. After a 3-1/2 hour heated debate in the Senate Finance Committee, SB-11 passed on a 6-5 vote. The committee Chair Sen. George Munoz, D Gallup, joined Republicans in voting against the bill.

Opponents have pointed to the non-partisan Fiscal Impact Report attached to the bill as a reason not to pass it. The study says the bill would require adding 200 employees to Workforce Solutions to implement the plan. It also points out that it could become insolvent within the first two years.

The New Mexico Chamber and the New Mexico Chamber Executives Assn. are roundly opposed to the bill, saying it was a tax on employees and could put small employers in a tough situation of trying to manage operations for up to three months in a job market that could make temporary hires tough to make.

The bill would provide for withholding tax of $5 for every $1,000 they earn and employers would pay $4. Employers with less than five employees wouldn’t be required to contribute but employees would still be taxed.
Abortion access protection bill passes House
Late last Tuesday the House passed HB-7, which seeks to protect abortion access in the state. The bill would directly affect ordinances passed by Roosevelt County and City of Clovis other southeast New Mexico communities that prevents abortion clinics from opening in those communities.

The 38-31 vote was far from party-line, however, with six Democrats voting against following the three-hour debate.
Voter rights bill passes House floor
HB-4, a voting rights bill very similar to one that narrowly failed last year passed the House floor 41-26 last week. That bill was killed in the final moments of the session with a filibuster on the Senate floor.

The bill includes same day registration, felon voting rights restored on release, election day as a state holiday and at least two ballot drop boxes required in each county along with other provisions.
Graduation requirement changes sail through House
HB-26, which would reduce the number of credits required by high school students to graduate from 24 to 22 passed the House floor on a near unanimous vote of 64-3. The bill also drops the requirement of Algebra II to graduate but an amendment will require schools to continue to offer the course.
Cabinet choices all approved unanimously
It may be early yet but the sense of bipartisanship on display in Santa Fe is heartening if not strange. Republicans put up little to no concerns over Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s cabinet choices for her new term. Among those was Economic Development Department Secretary Alicia Keyes. She was praised for her efforts at diversifying the economy with tourism and movie industry moves. The Senate made short work of seven appointments Saturday
Green chile aroma challenged by dairy air
The Senate also took up the important business of naming a state aroma during its Saturday afternoon session. On the docket was an effort by students from Dona Ana County to declare the aroma of roasting green chile as the official state aroma. What many might think would be an open and shut case was turned into a learning opportunity when Sen. Cliff Pirtle R-Roswell countered with an amendment to make the smell of “dairy air” the state aroma. In the end Pirtle urged Senate members not to vote for his amendment and the bill passed with just four dissenting votes.