Legislative Update

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024

PFML from Senate clears single House committee on to floor

After passing the Senate floor late last week, SB3 the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act breezed through it’s one and only House Committee House Health and Human Services and now sits one stop away from the Governor’s desk on the House floor. The bill didn’t move off the Senate floor however without a four hour debate and a few appeasing amendments by the sponsors. Basically, except for child care the length of leave was dropped from 12 to 9 weeks but after two years the program would be assessed and the original 12 weeks would be re-instated. Republicans argue the changes still don’t address solvency issues with the plan. Expect another lengthy debate when this bill comes up on the House floor. Time is short and anything can happen.

Budget goes back to House for concurrence

With the Thursday noon deadline looming the New Mexico Legislature has a budget bill one step away from the Governor’s desk. Upon receiving the House passed budget Senate Finance took the better part of a week to tinker with it before sending it to the full Senate. Their changes added more money to investment funds that will generate income in leaner years. The committee also added road money as well as money for student lunches and literacy programs. The budget as it sits now is $10.22 billion or a 6.8% increase over 2024.

$217 million tax package heads back to House also

HB 252, the omnibus tax package has made its way through the Senate and is back in the House for concurrence as well. After dropping in a number of incentives for new and used electric vehicles, rooftop home solar systems and more. The most important thing is the new brackets for personal income tax. It is $17 million over legislators’ original budget limit. But when you’re playing with $10.22 billion what’s a few million along the road.

Legislators losing patience on unfinished capital outlay

Senate Finance took up SB246 that reauthorizes approximately $5 billion in previous year’s capital outlay. Senators said they didn’t want to keep approving new capital outlay with all the projects they have to keep reauthorizing. some as old as eight years. Committee Chair George Munoz, D, McKinley vowed it would be the last year. Pat Woods, R, Broadview questioned whether or not NM Dept. of Finance Admin. couldn’t be “nudged” to help move things along. Sen. Crystal Brantley, R., Elephant Butte noted that some of the backlogged projects were for vehicles. “I don’t know how anyone couldn’t get a vehicle purchased in five years.” This is just further evidence of how broken our state’s capital outlay program really is.

Clean Fuel Standards bill heads to full Senate

A bill that would establish clean fuel standards and set up a process for industry that fails to meet those standards can purchase carbon credits from industry that meets the standards through use of clean energy. Republicans argued that the bill would result in higher prices at the pump and higher energy prices overall forcing those living below the poverty line into choosing more carbon heavy fuels like wood or coal to heat their homes.

NM Match Fund heads to Governor

HB177, which we mentioned previously, has made its way to the Governor’s desk in record time with mostly unanimous approval along the way. The measure sets up a $100 million fund to match federal infrastructure grants. Maybe soon local communities won’t lose federal grants for lack of matching money.

Check out the Chamber’s Legislative Priorities

Please take a look at the Legislative Priorities document approved by the Chamber Board earlier today. Download that document at the link below. It can be printed two-sided on a letter sheet and folded in half for ease of distribution.

2024 Legislative Priorities