March 19, 2025
Paid Family and Medical Leave Dies in Senate Committee
HB11 which would have created a state-operated family and medical leave program and a new payroll tax for employees and employers was voted down in the Senate Legislative Finance Committee on Saturday effectively killing the effort. The bill was the top target for businesses and business organizations in the state and the effort mounted to defeat the bill included thousands of emails and calls and passionate testimony against the bill. The bills supporters watered down the measure to move it through committee all session long and by the time it got to it’s last stop before the Senate floor it had gone from 12 weeks paid leave to six weeks. The effort has been fought each year for over half a decade.

Medical Malpractice Reform Fails in Senate Committee
A bill that would have reformed medical malpractice laws in the state was voted down on a 5-4 vote Friday in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. The bill sought to move the medical malpractice system from a lawyer-centered system to a patient centered system and reduce the incidence of medical malpractice in the future. The effort did move the needle on the reforms according to supporters as this year saw bipartisan sponsorship of the bill with 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans on board. Proponents of the bill say that the structure of New Mexico’s laws hinders recruitment and retention of doctors in the state. Another bill aimed at physician recruitment and retention, HB88 is still alive and waiting to go before the House Appropriations & Finance Committee, its last stop before a final floor vote. The bill would create a state-supported Medicaid Trust Fund, which would aid in keeping reimbursement rates up. The measure has passed easily so far, sailing through the Senate Floor with a 37-0 vote. Hopefully the bill moves up on the calendar and makes it across the finish line.

Office of Child Advocate Bill Heads to Governor
A bill creating an outside Office of Child Advocate within the Department of Justice passed the Senate last week and the House concurred with Senate amendments on Monday sending the bill to the Governor’s desk. Amid a cry to reform the Children, Youth and Family Department, this was seen as a way to provide outside oversight to a department that has been under fire in recent years. The office would work to make sure children remain safe and cared for while in the system,

State Game and Fish Department reforms headed to Governor
A bill that would make changes to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, including changing its name to New Mexico Wildlife Commission has passed both Houses and awaits the Governor’s pen. The changes are aimed at refocusing the mission of the department on wildlife in general and not just game species. The bill also authorizes increases in license fees, which haven’t been changed in a very long time. The measure passed the House last week 42-26 on a mostly party-line vote with Republicans dissenting.

Budget Bill Clears Final Senate Committee
The most important bill for legislators to pass before the session ends at noon Saturday is HB2, the budget bill. Tuesday the bill got one step closer with the Senate Finance Committee finishing with its tweaks and sending the bill on to the Senate floor. After it is passed there it will have to go back to the House for concurrence with the changes. The record $10.8 billion 2026 budget will get done but at the end it always gobbles up valuable time that could have been used on the hundreds of bills left unattended to.