Transcript Highlights:

• , entities with revenue between $100,000 and $1 million, were subject to an agreed-upon auditing procedure
• So this is based on a comprehensive study that we commissioned through the Bureau of Business and Economic
• do the federal single audit, but they backfill that with different kinds of audits and different procedures
• This is standard operating procedure in Senate Finance. It removes the appropriation.

Bills: HB2, SB145, SB143

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, fee update, regulatory fees, egg inspection, egg grading, egg dealer, pesticide control

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 143, which would raise caps on certain agriculture fees so they can keep pace with inflation. Senator Woods explained that the bill only adjusts fee ceilings, not automatic increases, and an amendment was adopted to tie the caps to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the U.S. Department of Labor. There was no public support or opposition testimony, and the bill was then passed on an 8-0 do-pass vote, with several members excused. The committee then took up Senate Bill 145, which would change the state audit system by raising thresholds for smaller local public bodies and creating a statewide federal single audit for state agencies. The State Auditor and DFA said the bill was intended to streamline audits, reduce delays, and align New Mexico with federal rules and other states, but multiple CPA and audit witnesses opposed the statewide single-audit concept, warning it could reduce transparency, weaken accountability, and increase the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse. Committee members pressed for clarification on how the audit structure would work, which agencies would be covered, and whether DFA or independent auditors would conduct the work; the sponsors said amendments were needed to clarify the bill and remove problematic language, including the appropriation and references to gifts and donations. The committee adopted an amendment striking the appropriation language and then continued questioning without taking final action in the excerpt. The final portion of the meeting shifted to the House Bill 2 budget presentation. Committee members reviewed the Senate Finance version of the budget, which included about a 2.7% increase in recurring spending, 30% reserves, and major investments in health care affordability, early childhood, public education, housing, clean energy, water, and agriculture-related priorities. Members asked about water testing needs, water settlement funding, career technical education funding, and the contingency fund/disaster reserve structure. The presenters said some items still needed technical work and that additional adjustments would be made before final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, because they go through manipulation procedures, they're on site with the doctor.
• So they already know the procedures on how to adjust, just like our medical counterparts.
• Suturing and setting fractures is a pretty significant procedure.
• So the licensed chiropractor then says, okay, these are the procedures that need to be done.
• So the licensed chiropractor then says, okay, these are the procedures that need to be done.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 13 and approved the minutes from the prior week before taking up a series of House bills, many of them with testimony from sponsors, agency officials, and stakeholders. Early action included HB 971, which would direct LDH to equalize Medicaid reimbursement rates between independent rural health clinics and hospital-owned rural health clinics; the sponsor described a significant payment disparity and the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also deferred HB 1030 and HB 796 until the following week before moving to other items on the agenda. Several bills dealing with Medicaid and provider regulation were advanced. HB 414, as amended, closes a loophole so health care providers cannot hire unlicensed workers with certain serious out-of-state convictions; amendments addressed effective dates, FBI background-check issues for therapeutic group homes, and delays for direct support professional applicants caused by minor record issues. HB 740, as amended, creates an independent review process for Medicaid claims disputes in the coordinated system of care for behavioral health providers, with amendments clarifying applicability dates and program definitions. HB 786, which prohibits extrapolation in managed care claims recoupments and requires recovery to be based on actual overpayments or underpayments, was also reported favorably. HB 915 set timelines and accountability standards for prior authorization and utilization management in Medicaid managed care and was reported favorably after testimony about delays in care. The committee also heard and passed several bills affecting health professions and facilities. HB 405 simply updates the name of the national acupuncture certification body. HB 1095 allows nursing homes to use alternative power sources while keeping existing generator and fuel requirements. HB 557 defines long-term care pharmacies for policy purposes. HB 779 authorizes expedited partner therapy prescriptions for certain sexually transmitted diseases. HB 933 creates an optional commemorative birth certificate, with part of the fee going to the Office of Women’s Health. HB 796, carried by another representative for the author, establishes a chiropractic preceptorship program with on-site supervision requirements and was reported favorably after questions about student training and patient safety. The committee also heard emotionally charged testimony on HB 288, which would place the term “miscarriage” alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical documentation and patient communication. Several witnesses described the distress caused by current coding language, and supporters said the change would make records more compassionate and understandable; the bill was reported favorably. HB 403 increased the cottage food gross-sales cap, and after testimony from small producers and the committee’s discussion of other states’ higher limits, an amendment raised the cap to $150,000 before the bill was reported favorably. HB 930 modernizes cosmetic-product regulation and creates a small home-based producer exemption under a wholesale-sales threshold; it was also reported favorably. Finally, HB 1041, a no-mandate bill restricting discrimination based on medical intervention status, prompted extended debate over exemptions for schools, hospitals, and other entities, with one amendment failing on a roll-call vote and the discussion continuing over the scope of the bill and federal funding concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• These sex-rejecting procedures do not resolve underlying distress. They often deepen it.
• , who is testifying in his personal capacity as a member of the commission.
• , who is testifying in his personal capacity as a member of the commission.
• AB 2040 makes a procedural change to California's juvenile transfer law.
• So AB 2108 is not a minor procedural change.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Why would they have a higher commission rate, and who would set that commission rate?
• Would you be open to capping the commission rate at the same as other plans?
• It's already been mentioned the outrageous commissions, and that's correct.
• The current makeup of the commission includes two state attorneys and two public defenders.
• The current makeup of the commission includes two state attorneys and two public defenders.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THE COMMISSION OUTLINED 12 RECOMMENDATIONS AND I AM GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SIX MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
• THE COMMISSION IS CLEAR. EDUCATOR PREPARATION AND ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ARE ESSENTIAL.
• THE COMMISSION URGES STATES AND DISTRICTS TO CONSIDER BOTH UPFRONT AND ONGOING COSTS.
• THERE ARE FOUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM FLORIDA ON THIS COMMISSION.
• DOES THE COMMISSION KNOW OR THE TASK FORCE KNOW OF ANY SIMILAR MODULES LIKE MR.

Transcript Highlights:

• Secretary of State John Quincy Adams commissioned William J.
• </c> Quinsey Adams commissioned William J. Quinsey Adams commissioned William J.
• </c><01:45:38.000><c> that</c> cannot impose voting procedures that cannot impose voting procedures that
• ,</c><01:57:16.159><c> the</c> Commodity Futures Trade Commission, the Commodity Futures Trade Commission
• </c> committee actually is the commission committee actually is the commission actually<05:50:31.680>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, and this is exactly the procedure that my constituent follows as well.
• </c> with your recipe and your procedure with your recipe and your procedure that's<02:34:24.399><c>
• I'm here representing the commission and the department in opposition of this bill.
• I'm here representing the commission and the department in opposition of this bill.
• I'm here representing the commission and the department in opposition of this bill.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a work session on HB 505, which would allow the sale of freeze-dried foods produced in homestead food operations. Members raised concerns about the bill’s broad language, especially the provision stating freeze-dried food would not be considered potentially hazardous. Several suggested narrowing the bill to specific products such as processed foods, berries, fruit, dairy products, ice cream, or vegetables, and requiring use of commercial freeze-drying equipment rather than dehydrators. There was also discussion of oxygen absorbers, moisture control, sanitation, and whether the issue should be handled in statute or rules. By the end of the discussion, members generally agreed the topic should be treated in a separate section of law rather than folded into the existing homestead food license, and the chair said the matter would be sent to the food safety subcommittee, with the possibility of a study committee if more time was needed. The committee then moved to HB 277, a technical correction to the animal cruelty statutes. Representative Bixby explained that current law refers to a “colt,” which applies only to male baby horses, leaving fillies unaddressed; the bill would replace “colt” with “foal” and make related wording changes so the restriction applies to any horse under 90 days old not being nursed by its dam. The New Hampshire Farm Bureau testified in support, saying the change was requested to clarify and modernize the statute and that the issue had been identified during work on related animal cruelty legislation. No votes were taken in the portion provided. The chair recessed the work session until 11:00 a.m. and announced that Representative Ktoa would take over the hearing on HB 277.

Transcript Highlights:

• And observers can be there to challenge processes and procedures.
• In fact— President Trump set up a commission during his first term, and the commission disbanded the

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on May 6, 2026, with a quorum present and heard one bill, SB 73. The author described the measure as a response to perceived threats to California elections, including restrictions on armed or non-uniformed personnel at polling places, protections for ballots and voting equipment, and limits on law enforcement access to election materials without a court order. The chair reviewed a set of agreed amendments, including removing a section conflicting with AB 1664, deleting proposed criminal penalties, clarifying the role of the Attorney General and Secretary of State, and refining language on signature challenges, law enforcement support, and certified voting technology. Supporters, including AAPI Force, CHIRLA, the League of Women Voters of California, and Common Cause, argued the bill would protect voters from intimidation and preserve election integrity. Opponents from CALA argued the bill was unnecessary, would hinder legitimate investigations, and reflected distrust of law enforcement and federal oversight. Committee discussion focused heavily on whether the bill was responding to real-world threats and on the ballot seizure in Riverside County. Members questioned how the measure would affect signature challenges, chain of custody, and investigations into possible fraud. The author and supporters said ballots should remain in election officials’ custody and that federal or local agents should not be able to interfere with election materials or intimidate voters. The chair and other members also discussed the urgency clause and the need to move the bill quickly despite the proximity of the June election. The committee voted to do pass and re-refer SB 73 to the Committee on Public Safety. The roll call initially showed the bill passing 5-1, then after the absent member arrived, the final vote was 6-2, and the bill was reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Observers can be there to challenge processes and procedures, and they can be there to observe, but they're
• In fact— President Trump set up a commission during his first term, and the commission disbanded the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had the counties, we had the utilities, we had the Tax Commission.
• “Counties, we had the utilities, we had the Tax Commission.
• This reform modernizes the subdivision procedure. It does not change land use classification.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee heard and advanced four bills. House Bill 792, from Rep. Jason Monks, clarified the relationship between existing yard sale exemptions and the small seller exemption, including how sales tax applies once a seller exceeds the $5,000 threshold and how the exemption phases out above $7,500. The committee took no testimony, then voted unanimously to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation; Sen. Den Hartog will carry it. House Bill 722, from Rep. Jeff Ehlers, corrected timing issues in the transition from utility property taxation to a kilowatt-hour usage tax, aligning reporting and payment dates with the existing six-month property tax schedule and making the change retroactive to January 1, 2026 so local governments have budget figures available. Members asked about the transition and stakeholder support, and Ehlers said counties, utilities, and the Tax Commission were all involved and on board. The committee then voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with Sen. Taves carrying it. House Bill 707, presented by Sen. Ben Taves, would create a streamlined process for dividing property to finance accessory dwelling units or secondary residential structures without going through a full subdivision process, while preserving zoning, utility, access, and agricultural protections and preventing repeated re-splitting. Members discussed how existing mortgages would be handled, and Taves said that would be worked out with lenders. The committee heard no public testimony and passed the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 800, also by Sen. Taves, would reduce zoning barriers for manufactured housing by allowing manufactured duplexes in multifamily zones and lowering minimum square footage thresholds for certain single-section and multisection manufactured homes; the Idaho Manufactured Housing Association testified in strong support. After questions about definitions, standards, and local flexibility, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee also approved the March 4, 2026 minutes and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2050, mobile homes abandonment procedure, Commerce.
• HB 2912, utility resource plan commission review, ENRU.
• HB 213, county land commission or state lands, ENRU. HCM 2008, gas tax elimination, ENRU.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and recorded attendance at 56 present, zero absent, and four excused. Members then used personal privilege to introduce guests and recognize visiting groups, including the West Valley Regional Chamber, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics Arizona, Vitalant, and veterans and military representatives. The chamber and blood donor month proclamations were read, with Representative Bliss recognizing January as National Blood Donor Month in Arizona and Vitalant’s role in supplying most of the state’s blood supply, and Representative Aguilar declaring January 22, 2026, West Valley Regional Chamber Day. The House handled a large volume of procedural business, including reports of standing committees, first reading and referral of numerous bills and resolutions, and announcements of committee meetings. The bills covered a wide range of topics such as elections, education, housing, taxes, health care, artificial intelligence, veterans, public safety, and energy. Several measures were also withdrawn and reassigned to different committees, including referrals to the Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, Government, Public Safety and Law Enforcement, and Natural Resources, Energy, and Water. Members also made brief remarks honoring guests and community causes, including a Veterans Caucus lunch announcement focused on military-family policy and a personal remembrance by Senator Cruz. No substantive floor votes on legislation were taken beyond procedural approvals and the motion to adjourn. The House recessed and later adjourned until 1:15 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I HAVE SERVED FOR THE PAST YEAR IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMISSION AND IN FACT I SAW MY GOOD FRIEND
• SO HERE IS A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR SENATE BILL 1620 WHICH CONTAINS THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE COMMISSION
• WOULD PICK UP ON THAT ONE VISIT THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE. >> GROUP HOME FACILITY WOULD ESTABLISH THE PROCEDURE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if the state could facilitate a change, then you wouldn't have all the NEPA procedures you would necessarily
• And so it's asking them to use their standard corporate procedures and processes for good and for protecting
• And so it's asking them to use their standard corporate procedures and processes for good and for protecting
• Public opinion polling commissioned by Idaho Family Policy Center shows that over 76% of likely Idaho
• not calling out specific technology, just like we do with doctors, we're not calling out specific procedures

Summary: The committee first considered RS 33178, a proposed constitutional amendment to change how state endowment and public lands are managed. Representative Raibald said the measure would shift the focus from maximum long-term financial return to a broader approach that prioritizes ongoing revenue generation, preserves public access for recreation and hunting/fishing/trapping where possible, and still allows sale or exchange only when needed and at appraised value. He also said the amendment would create a framework for any future federal land transfers, account for existing rights and obligations, and direct revenues into a dedicated fund for managing those lands. Members raised questions about wildfire impacts, tribal rights, land exchanges, and whether the proposal could lead to sales of valuable land; Raibald said the legislature would retain policy authority and that the measure was meant as a backstop. The committee voted to introduce RS 33178. The committee then heard House Bill 542, which would regulate social media use by minors. Representative Crane and legal counsel Chelsea Yeoman argued the bill is aimed at addictive design features rather than content, citing harms to youth mental health, privacy, and attention, and saying the bill would use existing age-estimation technology to default minors off platforms unless parents give verified consent. The bill would also require removal of features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, public like counts, and algorithmic targeting for covered minors, and it would create a private right of action and Attorney General enforcement. Supporters said it would empower parents and protect children from harmful platform design; a remote industry witness opposed it, arguing it would violate First Amendment rights, conflict with precedent, and invite litigation. Committee members asked about constitutional issues, Section 230, age estimation, parental controls, enforcement, and the bill’s $1 billion coverage threshold. Supporters responded that the bill was drafted to be content-neutral and to fit existing case law, while opponents said it still functioned as speech regulation. After public testimony from Idaho Family Policy Center in support and CCIA in opposition, the committee debated the bill. Several members spoke in favor, emphasizing child safety and parental control, while others noted likely litigation and costs. The committee then voted to send House Bill 542 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, Texas Commission on License, Licensing and Regulation is required to coordinate with two separate
• Members, the purpose of Senate Bill 2487 is to enhance the procedures and infrastructure for providing
• it requires that a hospital accept one of these donations if it is ordered by a physician for the procedure
• donations are generally recognized as safe options for patients who might otherwise refuse these procedures
• As more and more Texans grow to mistrust procedures that have been mandated or thrust upon them, they

Transcript Highlights:

• encourage the committee to consider the benefits of competitive bidding for the state, as was commissioned
• service technicians are responsible for ensuring that equipment and instruments used during surgical procedures
• street to sterilize these surgical instruments, and then those instruments are used to perform procedures
• notified patients from four surgeries that unsterile surgical instruments were used during their procedures
• Finally, the hospital closure clarification proposal clarifies the procedure for hospital closures and

Transcript Highlights:

• , last week I distributed preliminary language that we've been working on to address and remedy procedural
• , last week I distributed preliminary language that we've been working on to address and remedy procedural
• But I do believe some arguments could be made that having that safety net maybe has led to some procedures
• But I do believe when we put these procedures in place, there should be no need for this safety net.
• Last fall, the Legislative Budget Commission published the Long Range Financial Outlook, which projected

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met during Budget Week and first considered three member bills. House Bill 1111, by Rep. Valdes, would eliminate the option for students to leave high school with a certificate of completion instead of a standard diploma. Valdes said the bill was inspired by students who met credit requirements but could not pass a required assessment, and argued the certificate does not provide access to college, trade school, or military service. The bill passed unanimously, 15-0. CS for House Bill 127, by Rep. Kendall, would support students with disabilities by using existing Florida Department of Education curriculum to create micro-credentials and coordinating with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA on workplace safety. Goodwill, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Florida PTA, and others supported the bill, which also passed unanimously, 15-0. House Bill 1367, by Rep. Booth, addressed chronic absenteeism by requiring statewide definitions and more uniform attendance reporting, along with rules for excused and unexcused absences and early identification of chronically absent students. Testimony emphasized inconsistent district policies and the need for clearer data and interventions. The bill passed 13-0, with some members noting concerns about implementation details and future rulemaking. The committee then took up PCB-P-PKB-2501, the proposed conforming bill for the fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget. The chair said the bill was designed to align statutes with budget and scholarship funding procedures, especially around the Florida Education Finance Program and scholarship payments. The PCB would require Florida student ID numbers for scholarship students, standardize cross-checking against FTE survey data, set quarterly payment dates, and use one data source for both reporting and withholding scholarship-related FFP amounts. It also would reduce certain add-on weights by 50%, remove the budget stabilization program, and repeal the educational enrollment stabilization program. Several members raised concerns that the add-on weight reductions could hurt career and technical education, AICE, IB, and CAPE programs, while the sponsor argued the data showed too much spending in an “other” category and that the reductions were aimed at aligning funding with actual program costs. Public testimony was mixed: some supported tighter accountability and clearer payment rules, while others warned against undermining expensive career-readiness programs. The PCB passed 11-2. After the conforming bill, the chair presented the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget, totaling just under $21 billion, about $400 million below the current year. She said the budget reflects a need to slow spending growth and includes $20 million for New Worlds Scholarship Accounts, $7 million for security grants at Jewish day schools and preschools, $14 million for public school transportation stipends, an overall FEFP increase of about $747.7 million, $100 million for teacher salary increases, and increases in the base student allocation and funds per student. The committee did not vote on the budget recommendation at this meeting; it was distributed for review and will move to the Budget Committee next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to motion to suspend all necessary rules and procedures to take up and consider HR 335.
• The Judicial Compensation Commission has recommended a 30% increase in the base pay for judges this session
• The Supreme Court can amend the rules of civil procedure, and I welcome your ideas for changes along
• Our own procedures promote the efficient administration of justice as best they can, and we're doing
• Both by simplifying and streamlining the law and the rules of procedure, as I mentioned, But also by

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the bill creates the physician assistant licensure compact commission and outlines its
• Additionally, the bill creates the physician assistant licensure compact commission and outlines its
• The bill also establishes the Interstate Podiatric Medical Licensure Compact Commission and outlines
• Once four states enact the compact, the commission will be established, and this will help facilitate
• more than 5,000 students to provide the public with a live video feed of each meeting, and details procedures

Summary: The meeting covered a long series of House bills across health, commerce, education, elections, government, and veterans issues, with many measures described as consent-calendar items. In health and human services, members discussed updates to radiology technology standards, a tribal Medicaid waiver bill, an emergency medicine study committee, fetal death certificate and remains-transfer requirements, a physician assistant licensure compact, dementia care telemonitoring funding, and SNAP error-rate reduction and eligibility oversight. Sponsors generally framed these bills as technical updates, workforce or access improvements, cost savings, or support for families and vulnerable populations, while some bills drew brief questions about implementation or opposition. In commerce and finance, the committee heard bills on mobile food vendor licensing, earned wage access services, CPA certification, cash acceptance by retail businesses, unmanned aircraft regulation, timeshare salesperson licensing, social credit score restrictions for lending, and a ban on state assistance to the International Criminal Court. Sponsors emphasized reduced regulation, consumer protections, transparency, and state sovereignty. The committee also considered tax and retirement-related measures, including conformity with the Internal Revenue Code, ASRS technical changes, and a 529 plan update that also addressed Roth IRA rollovers. Education and school governance bills focused heavily on school district oversight and transparency. Members discussed patriotic youth group presentations in schools, school board term limits and mandatory training, bond-advisor requirements, restrictions on school districts buying operating charter or private schools to affect funding formulas, conflicts of interest on the School Facilities Oversight Board, public meeting and travel disclosure rules, limits on long-term school property leases, job-order contracting caps, and a computer science proficiency seal. Sponsors repeatedly argued these bills would improve accountability, prevent misuse of public funds, and increase public access to school board decisions. The meeting also included elections, veterans, government, and other administrative measures. These included changes to sample-ballot mailing deadlines, a requirement that courts ask about veteran status at first appearance, a veterans awareness study, broader military leave protections, SAVE database verification for voter registration and licensing, U.S.-sourced election equipment requirements, Electoral College affirmation, justice court due-process protections, library trustee reporting deadlines, adult protective services reporting cleanup, and procurement transparency. No final floor votes were taken in the excerpt, and most items were presented for questions or moved through consent with brief sponsor explanations and occasional opposition noted in committee testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• The commission is designated in statute to be a bipartisan body, and we believe that with diversity of
• Please join the Commission on the Status of Women in supporting SB 53. Thank you.
• Okay, so the proper procedure for a committee substitute is we do a do not pass on Senate Bill 96, again
• Okay, as is the procedure.
• Okay, as is the procedure, the Chair will move a do not pass on Senate Bill 129, but for purposes of

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 20, a prior-authorization measure aimed at exempting certain medications and treatments for seriously mentally ill adults from repeat insurance prior authorization, while also extending prior authorization approvals to three years for chronic maintenance drugs. The sponsor described the bill as the latest in a series of bipartisan prior-authorization reforms and accepted an amendment from the Health Care Authority and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance to apply the bill to adults only and to cover PBMs in the interagency purchasing collaborative. Supporters, including NAMI New Mexico and state health officials, argued the bill would reduce barriers to needed care, especially for mental health treatment. Opponents from health plans, PBMs, and insurers warned the bill was too broad, lacked clear definitions for serious mental illness and chronic conditions, created patient-safety concerns, and should have a shorter reauthorization period and later implementation date. After committee discussion, the sponsor agreed to work on a committee substitute, and the bill was rolled over for a later meeting. The committee then heard Senate Bill 53, the Chispa data privacy bill, which would impose broad limits on the collection, sale, and use of personal data, require opt-in consent for many uses, strengthen rights to access, correct, and delete data, and create enforcement mechanisms including a private right of action. Supporters from advocacy, women’s, behavioral health, reproductive health, and civil rights groups said the bill was needed to protect sensitive health and location data, prevent surveillance and criminalization, and give New Mexicans real control over their information. Business, technology, insurance, and hospital representatives opposed the bill, arguing it was more restrictive than other states’ privacy laws, would burden small businesses and health-related services, create compliance uncertainty, and risk limiting digital services and innovation. After extensive questioning about data breaches, opt-in consent, nonprofit exemptions, and the bill’s impact on businesses and health care access, a motion to table failed 5-4, and the committee then passed SB 53 on a 5-4 vote. The committee next heard Senate Bill 86, which updates the state’s harassment-by-telephone law to cover electronic communications such as social media, messaging apps, and email. The sponsor and a Las Cruces police chief said the change would modernize an outdated 1967 statute and help law enforcement address harassment and domestic violence through current technology. The bill drew support from the governor’s public safety advisor and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, and members asked a few clarifying questions about the wording. The committee approved SB 86 unanimously, 9-0. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 96, on regulated childcare zoning requirements, using a committee substitute. The sponsor and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department said the bill would reduce confusing zoning and fire-code barriers to opening or expanding child care homes and centers, helping address a statewide shortage of child care slots and supporting working families. The discussion began with the committee substitute and an explanation that the measure is intended to streamline local requirements and expand child care supply.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has been developed in consultation with the Fair Political Practices Commission and will modernize
• We saw firsthand how that process worked with the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.
• We all... ...how that process worked with the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.
• I applaud the advisory commission for scheduling so many community hearings, ...as unbiased.
• But we know independent commissions work.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments heard several election-related bills. SB 1175 would require lobbyists to file employment changes, terminations, and amendments directly with the Secretary of State through the Cal-Access replacement system, rather than through their employer or firm, to reduce delays and improve transparency. SB 1357 would protect the privacy of voters who sign a notice of intention to circulate a recall petition by omitting signatures and street addresses from the published notice and adding a disclosure explaining that the notice is not itself a petition. Both bills drew support from the Secretary of State’s office and election officials, with no opposition heard in committee. The committee also heard SB 1369, which would add safeguards to judicial recall efforts by requiring disclosure when signature gatherers are paid and shortening the signature-gathering period for judicial recalls from 160 days to 80 days. Supporters, including judges and trial lawyers, said the measure would protect judicial independence and safety amid what they described as politically motivated recall campaigns; one member raised concerns about treating judges differently from other officials. SB 1414 would create an independent redistricting commission for San Bernardino County, modeled on other California jurisdictions, to draw supervisorial districts through a more transparent process. It had support from good-government groups and only limited concerns from the county, which said it wanted further amendments. The committee then heard SB 970, which would direct the Secretary of State to develop regulations allowing military and overseas voters to return ballots electronically, with the author saying California should modernize as fax service declines and mail service becomes less reliable. County election officials and veterans’ groups supported the bill, while the Secretary of State’s office and voting-security advocates opposed it, arguing that secure electronic ballot return is not currently feasible and could conflict with existing law. SB 1420 would expand voter education and guidance around “sign, scan, and go” voting, which lets voters cast a vote-by-mail ballot in person at a voting site; supporters said it can speed processing and improve voter convenience, while the Secretary of State’s office sought more clarity on double-voting safeguards. SB 1310 would allow limited information from jury questionnaires to be shared with election officials to help identify possible voter-registration issues, but opponents warned it could lead to wrongful purges and harm eligible voters. All bills were voted out of committee, with SB 1175 and SB 1357 receiving unanimous support, SB 1369 and SB 1414 passing on 4-1 votes, and SB 970, SB 1420, and SB 1310 passing unanimously or near-unanimously after absent members were added on call.