March 5, 2025
Paid Family and Medical Leave bill passed to Senate
HB11 providing for paid leave for workers in New Mexico passed the House Floor on Friday by 38-31 vote. The bill known as the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act when it started its journey through the House has already undergone several changes in order to get out of the House. Included in those changes are a name change that makes it sound more like something off of a Chinese Restaurant menu than the creation of a state-run insurance plan. The new name is Welcome Child and Family Wellness Leave Act. Changes in the way the bill is funded also substantially change the bill as well. The amount in payroll taxes funding the bill changed from 0.5% to 0.2% on the employee side and from 0.4% to 0.15% for the employer. To make up for the decrease the bill was amended to pay $3,000 a month for three months for one parent of each newborn or newly adopted child in the state. That money would be pulled from the existing budget of Early Childhood Education and Care Department. Opponents argue that this still leaves the proposal grossly underfunded. Meanwhile proponents spurred the bill through despite not having an updated Fiscal Impact Report (FIR). Indications are that the fight is still on to stop the bill but the amendments portend trouble for its future.
CYFD Reforms Pass House Unanimously
Three bills meant to reform the way the Children Youth and Families Department operates passed the House unanimously on Tuesday. Reforms at the troubled agency have been debated for years and this year the Governor and both Houses pledged to get it done. Despite that pledge, CYFD administrators showed up to testify against the bills alongside other of the Governor’s cabinet heads. HB5 would create the office of Child Advocate a position outside of the department pledged to advocate for the child. HB203 stipulates that devices issued to department employees may only be used for tasks related to their assigned duties and backups must be regularly made. HB205 lays out new policies for dealing with newborns exposed to illicit substances.It also provides for a nominating committee to vet applicants for CYFD Secretary to submit to the Governor.
Medical Malpractice Legislation Debate On Deck
It is reported that SB176, which seeks to reign in medical malpractice suits in New Mexico could see its first hearing in coming days. Proponents say that the bill would make malpractice insurance attainable and keep doctors in the state and make recruitment possible if the bill is passed. They argue other states have controls on malpractice that puts New Mexico at a disadvantage. Components of the bill are that it would only allow payments to be made as the costs are incurred by patient rather than an up-front lump sum. It would also cap the attorney fees at 25%. Finally, 75% of punitive damages awarded would go toward a new patient improvement fund.
Oil and Gas Royalty Bump Moving Quickly
A measure to increase the oil and gas royalty fee from 20% to 25% is moving rapidly with one more House Committee to clear before it gets to the floor. SB23 passed the Senate on a 21-15 vote Feb 28 and the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday by a 5-4 vote. The House Appropriations and Finance Committee takes up the bill next. Royalties from oil and gas extracted from state lands go toward schools and other general fund expenditures.
