Wednesday, Jan. 29,2025
PFML clears first House Committee
Like a bad penny that keeps showing up, a 2025 version of Paid Family Medical Leave is back and cleared the House Health and Human Services Committee on Monday. It now heads to the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee. The bill would create a state-operated program run by the Department of Workforce Solutions that would allow workers to take up to 12 weeks of leave with a percentage of their regular pay to bond with a new child, care for a seriously ill family member, prepare for a spouses military deployment or to protect themselves in cases of potential domestic violence. The program would be funded by adding payroll taxes with the employee paying $5 for every $1,000 earned and the employer kicking in $4. Very little has changed from last year’s version that came out of the Senate and was killed on the House floor by a two vote margin. Businesses and Chambers of Commerce have argued that adding payroll taxes to an employee’s check in hard times isn’t always what the worker wants to see as they struggle to pay the rent. Business owners also say they are going through tight times as well. They have also argued that finding and training temporary workers is also tough to do. Opponents also argue whether or not the program would remain solvent after some studies showed there would eventually be problems.
Governor wants legislators to get tough on crime
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham held a news conference in round table fashion Tuesday to urge legislators to get together on public safety legislation this session. She urged them rather than one or two bills to put together an omnibus package of crime-fighting legislation that would really make a difference. Among the legislation she would most like passed is enhancement of penalties for gun-related crimes and legislation that would provide an avenue to involuntarily commit offenders deemed unfit for trial. Among those around the table were Rep. Andrea Reeb who represents Roosevelt County. As a former prosecutor she makes no bones about the fact that improving the criminal justice system is a priority for her. “Everybody seems to be coming to the table, whether it’s competency, whether it’s Sam Bregman’s (Bernallio District Attorney) great ideas on juvenile bills,’ she said. “I know we’re not going to agree on everything but public safety is something I feel very strongly about.
Bill prohibiting cell phone use in schools advances
Today the Senate Education Committee advanced a bill that would encourage school boards to adopt policy that would restrict or outlaw cell phone usage at school advanced on a 7-2 vote. Both votes against it were Democrats with other Democrats siding with Republicans to advance the bill. Sen. Bill Soules of Las Cruces, the committee chair, said it wasn’t well written legislation and took issue with the words “encourage” and “reimburse.” The bill’s sponsor Republican Crystal Brantley said she prefers the word encourage rather than mandate. Soules also complained that the language of the bill just said reimburse but doesn’t say how much will be reimbursed. This bill isn’t dialing a busy signal, it may get fixed and have some legs.
Red flag law update passes committee
A deeply controversial law passed in 2020 is back before lawmakers with proposed updates that would make it easier to take firearms away from an individual deemed mentally unstable. The updates to the so-called red flag law would allow law enforcement to seize firearms immediately rather than waiting 48 hours. It also seeks to clarify that police can actually file the paperwork themselves. The bill passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs this week on a party-line vote with two Republicans voting against.
Nibert confirmed to PRC by Senate
Roswell attorney Greg Nibert’s appointment to the Public Regulation Commission by the Governor was approved unanimously by the Senate this week. Nibert served as a state representative for years and stepped into the role of Senator in District 27 last year after he was appointed to that position after Stuart Ingle retired from the position. Since the commission already has two Democrats by law a Republican had to be appointed. Senators said they were also happy to have an attorney on the commission despite a potential for conflict of interest because of the corporate firm he is employed by. Nibert said he would take those issues on a case-by-case basis just as a judge would.