Transcript Highlights:

• The rules under city control allowed for lieutenants to be paid that overtime rate.
• I think. ...under city control allowed for lieutenants to be paid that overtime rate of straight time
• So thinking about that, and then also thinking about we have had our worst ever pedestrian fatality rate
• So thinking about that, and then also thinking about we have had our worst ever pedestrian fatality rate
• We noticed that the teen fatality rate kept climbing.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Construction costs are up, and interest rates are high.
• But how much does it cost the state in our funded vacancies and our retention rates?
• And I look at agency budgets, and I see the funded vacancy rate, which means it is hard to fill state
• If there's capacity in gross receipts tax rates, local governments can increase those.
• If there's capacity in property tax rates, local governments can Increase those.

Bills: SB240

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Keywords: capital outlay, capital projects, severance tax bonds, general fund appropriations, supplemental severance tax bonds, UNM School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, infrastructure, state buildings, courts, schools, higher education, road improvements, water and wastewater, tribal infrastructure, tribal projects, public safety, housing, emergency services, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• family's tax credit has been shown to reduce poverty and improve New Mexico's labor force participation rate
• for taxpayers to claim and for TRD to administer, which will increase the usage and keep the error rates
• So then we're looking at the error rates going way down when we're talking about administering these
• So we will work with the veteran to support that claim and get back a decision rating, which then we
• So my question... decision rating, which then we will issue our certification for their tax exemption

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 296, which would double New Mexico’s working families tax credit. The sponsor said the bill would increase work incentives, reduce poverty, and could provide families up to about $1,900 more per year, with benefits concentrated among families with children and lower earners. Public testimony from advocacy groups and faith organizations supported the bill. Members asked about foster family eligibility, age eligibility, refundability, and how the credit compared with a prior vetoed proposal. After discussion, a member moved to table the bill, and HB 296 was tabled. The committee then took up the committee substitute for House Bill 77, a tax credit for rehabilitating vacant or blighted buildings into affordable multifamily housing, with at least half of the credit reserved for rural New Mexico. Supporters from housing, business, construction, local government, and advocacy groups said it would expand housing supply, revitalize downtowns and vacant properties, and help rural communities. Members questioned the certification and recertification process, affordability requirements, and the role of the Mortgage Finance Authority. The sponsor asked to roll the bill to Friday so an amendment could be considered, and the committee agreed to roll HB 77 rather than vote on it. House Bill 275, authorizing revenue bonds for Hila Regional Medical Center to replace an aging linear accelerator used for radiation cancer treatment, was heard next. The sponsor and supporters said the equipment is essential for cancer care in southwest New Mexico and that patients would otherwise have to travel long distances for treatment. An amendment extending the bond term from 20 to 30 years was adopted after the New Mexico Finance Authority explained declining tobacco-tax revenues and the need to protect against default risk. The committee then gave HB 275, as amended, a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 285, as amended, which clarifies and streamlines the disabled veteran property tax exemption. The sponsor said the bill limits the exemption to a primary residence, clarifies how it applies to multiple owners, and gives veterans more time and clearer procedures to claim or protest the exemption while they await VA certification. County assessors and realtor representatives supported the measure, saying it would reduce administrative confusion and ensure eligible veterans receive the benefit consistently. The committee adopted the bill on a do pass motion. The meeting then adjourned with notice that work would continue on Friday.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the bill that requires L&I to publish the actuarially indicated rates for each workers' compensation
• risk class as part of their proposed rates for the upcoming year.
• If they limit those rates, then they must publish additional information.
• incorporate an amendment that I understand also was offered by the Republican Party that did lower the rate
• the information available to those that are concerned about how we handle our industrial insurance rates

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee held public hearings and later executive action on several bills. Senate Bill 6158, by request of L&I, would update factory-built housing and commercial structure rules to incorporate International Code Council standards and allow qualified third-party inspectors approved by L&I; the sponsor said it would make modular housing inspections more efficient and cost-effective, and L&I supported it with a requested technical amendment and no fiscal impact. Senate Bill 6197 would separate plumbing discipline standards for residential and nonresidential work, allowing suspension after five infractions in five years for nonresidential violations while keeping the current three-in-36-month standard for residential work; supporters from mechanical contractors, union plumbers, and a plumbing advisory board member said it would curb unlicensed work and unsafe practices, while opponents from contractor groups and some plumbing businesses argued it was too punitive, did not adequately distinguish commercial service from construction, and should be refined. L&I said it needed time to implement and asked for a later effective date. During executive session, the committee adopted a proposed substitute and advanced Senate Bill 5437, which voids noncompetition covenants, with a delayed effective date and other conforming changes; some Republicans opposed it as too broad. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 6117, which would extend PERC jurisdiction and state collective-bargaining protections if federal labor law no longer applies, after rejecting an amendment that would have narrowed coverage further. Senate Bill 5852, dealing with immigrant worker protections during federal I-9 inspections, advanced after the committee rejected an amendment to remove the private right of action. Senate Bill 5847, on workers’ compensation medical care and treatment access, advanced with an amendment removing penalty provisions and another adding claims manager positions; the bill was sent to Ways and Means. Senate Bills 6067 and 6136 also advanced, the former changing workers’ compensation health benefit calculations and the latter requiring L&I to publish actuarially indicated industrial insurance rates. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6302, which would address misclassification in finishing trades on public works by limiting contractors and subcontractors to no more than two independent contractors on covered finishing work such as drywall, flooring, tile, painting, and glazier work, with violators treated as employees for prevailing wage and workers’ compensation purposes. Supporters from building trades and pipefitters said the bill would reduce misclassification, protect workers, and level the playing field; opponents from general contractors and contractor associations said it would effectively ban legitimate independent contractors, reduce flexibility on public projects, and hurt small businesses. L&I said it had clarifying questions about how the cap would apply and asked for more specificity.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Yarborough said he did not know the answer about commission rates, but would research it and
• Senator Yarborough said he did not know the answer about the commission rate either, but was happy to
• Senator Polsky then asked whether he would be open to capping the commission rate at the same level as
• Senator Yarborough said he would consider capping the commission rate, but wanted to research and get
• Senator Yarborough said he would consider capping the commission rate, but wanted to research the first

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills. SB 624, by Senator Yarborough, would allow batterers intervention programs to offer optional supplemental faith-based activities, with no participant required to take part; supporters said it would expand provider options amid a shortage of certified programs, while opponents raised concerns about government speech and mixing religion with court-ordered programming. After debate, the bill was reported favorably 7-2. The committee also considered CS/SB 834, which repeals a 2022 restriction preventing licensed insurance agents from marketing or selling health care sharing ministries; supporters framed it as restoring choice and free speech, while opponents warned about consumer confusion, commissions, and lack of insurance protections. It was reported favorably 8-2. The committee next approved CS/SB 502, via a strike-all amendment, to give Florida concurrent jurisdiction over certain juvenile offenses on military installations so juveniles can be handled in state juvenile court rather than federal court; the amendment and bill both passed unanimously. CS/SB 52 also passed unanimously after testimony from church leaders and security personnel supporting an exemption from Class D/G licensing for unpaid armed security volunteers at places of worship. Supporters said the bill would clarify legal gray areas and help churches afford security, while members noted the broader concern that houses of worship need armed protection at all. Finally, the committee reported favorably SB 840, which revises last year’s emergency/local planning law by narrowing its application after storms from 100 miles to 50 miles of the storm track and exempting certain water, flood, and state/federal planning matters; local government representatives supported the clarification, and the bill passed 9-0. CS/SB 758, as amended, updated the membership of the Justice Administration Commission to better reflect the entities it oversees, and it also passed 9-0. The meeting ended with a recorded affirmative vote from Senator DeSigley on SB 624.

Transcript Highlights:

• conversation that we want to start with Joe Key and other members of the PSCOC. just to see if there's a rate
• If I could comment on that though, there has been talk about the high turnover rate and it being blamed
• you all again, as we are dealing with the issues of consolidation of our schools due to low birth rates
• It's like we just put all this money in, and graduation rates are still not good.
• our kids' education on the right track for long-term sustainability, and I expect those graduation rates

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, we've grown the team to about 35 folks, and we've had a really exceptional rate of progress
• you mentioned, like the roads, the wear and tear, and the usage, we can charge a standard overhead rate
• for all of our folks that are operating out there, but it's just an overhead rate.
• common-use infrastructure and the things like, you know, roads and things like that... ...overhead rate
• We can increase our own launch rate, et cetera.

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Summary: The Committee of Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security heard a series of informational presentations focused on Florida’s aerospace and space ecosystem. Blue Origin described its Florida operations at Rocket Park, Launch Complex 36, and Port Canaveral, highlighting New Glenn and Blue Moon development, recent launch activity, workforce development efforts, and major capital investment in the state. Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) outlined its low-Earth-orbit broadband network, customer terminals, satellite and gateway architecture, dark-sky mitigation efforts, and Florida investments including a payload processing facility and launch support infrastructure. Starcatcher Industries presented its concept for an orbital energy grid that would beam power to satellites, discussed demonstrations in Florida, customer interest, and plans for a first satellite launch next year. Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long gave a strategic update on the state’s aerospace industry, citing billions in private investment, growth in aerospace establishments and projects, spaceport infrastructure investments, workforce and university partnerships, and the importance of maintaining Florida’s competitiveness against other states. NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro then emphasized Artemis II preparations, rising launch demand, aging infrastructure, and the need for stronger state-federal coordination and investment in research, workforce, and common-use infrastructure. She compared Florida’s support structure with Texas and argued that Florida must act to avoid losing aerospace leadership. Members asked questions about mobile and aviation applications for Amazon Leo, dark-sky impacts, satellite counts, Starcatcher’s power transmission losses and storage approach, and NASA’s funding and infrastructure constraints. Petro also discussed limits on commercial investment in common infrastructure under federal rules and suggested that state investment and better alignment among partners could help. No bills were considered and no votes were taken beyond adjournment; the committee concluded by adopting a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• college more affordable and accessible for high school students, enrollment, persistence, and completion rates
• Our programs have proven to increase attendance rates, reduce chronic absences, reduce discipline rates
• This is really important, I think, about discipline rates in K-12.
• Black students who are men get disciplined at higher rates for the same conduct as... ...White male students
• outcomes include higher scores on exams, better attitudes and performance in math and reading, and higher rates

Bills: SB12 , SB226 , SB413 , SB1049 , SB1191 , SB2398 , SB571 , SB2920 , SB 12

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: parental rights, education, social transitioning, diversity, equity, inclusion, school policy, student clubs, residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, school boards, transparency, public meetings, attendance, recording, released time, religious instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, we will mandate annual reporting to HHSC with key metrics such as restoration rates and
• And we've had a 92% success rate with our 112 patients that have been served. have been deemed competent
• Again, the recidivism rate for that population is very high. Can you speak to that or no?
• Corrections officers die by suicide. at twice the rate of the general population of police officers.
• One study found that suicide rates among correctional officers were 30% higher than the general working

Bills: SB670 , SB1388 , SB627 , SB912 , SB269 , SB528 , HB2711 , HB4819 , HB5248 , HB4175

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: SB 670, investigational sun protection products, sun protection, sunscreen, FDA approval, clinical trial, phase one trial, patient access, informed consent, physician prescription, Texas Health and Safety Code, Texas Medical Board, compassionate use, experimental treatment, medical freedom, patient autonomy, healthcare regulation, dietitian, dietitians, licensed dietitian

Transcript Highlights:

• we continue to see restaurants going out of business and closing their doors at really an alarming rate
• advertised cost of internet service is systematically higher in neighborhoods with higher poverty rates
• per second service tier for $30 a month, while a neighborhood about a mile away with a 31% poverty rate
• The FCC that may or may not exist at the rate that the federal government is moving around this.
• just want to just be clear that the federal government, what is reported to FCC is the advertised rate

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• consistent. weapons that we know have been used to murder Texas children, if that results in a higher death rate
• operated was misappropriated approximately a hundred million in state and federal funds they received ratings
• TDI conducted a public hearing earlier this year to review and fix the title insurance basic premium rates
• The resulting order from the commissioner was a 10% decrease in title insurance rates.
• substitute Senate Bill 1810 relating to annual statistical reports for fixing title insurance premium rates

Bills: SJR27 , SJR39 , SB22 , SB33 , SB34 , SB37 , SB209 , SB310 , SB326 , SB505 , SB605 , SB618 , SB732 , SB762 , SB769 , SB783 , SB819 , SB825 , SB870 , SB964 , SB1030 , SB1080 , SB1085 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1233 , SB1314 , SB1320 , SB1333 , SB1398 , SB1405 , SB1541 , SB1567 , SB1596 , SB1598 , SB1625 , SB1646 , SB1662 , SB1750 , SB1758 , SB1791 , SB1804 , SB1810 , SB1818 , SB1838 , SB1855 , SB1869 , SB1951 , SB2024 , SB2077 , SB2078 , SB2252 , SB2253 , SB2368 , SB2411 , SB2420 , SB2425 , SB2569

Transcript Highlights:

• And they are producing fighters at a rate of 1.2 to 1 over the United States.
• Rates of production and diversifying the tanker fleet is key.
• They build combatants at the rate of... 6 to 1.8 to the United States, and I could go through every force
• Alaska Natives serve at higher rates in the military than any other ethnic group in the country.
• Strongly agree. our production rates, we have to invest in the submarine industrial base, we have to

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. military strategy, China military drills, Taiwan, Philippines, North Korea, defense budget, military modernization

Summary: The meeting focused on significant strategic discussions regarding the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and its military posture in the region. Admiral Paparo and General Brunson were commended for their services, with the Chair noting an alarming shift in the balance of power towards China. Key topics included China's aggressive military drills near Taiwan, the increasing coercion against the Philippines, and the need for the U.S. to reaffirm its commitments to its allies in the region. Concerns were raised regarding China's military modernization and its implications for U.S. forces, alongside discussions on North Korea's threats and its burgeoning nuclear capabilities. The committee emphasized the urgent need for military and defense appropriations to counteract these growing security challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the Home Health Aid Program to evaluate caregiver satisfaction and also compare hospitalization rates
• It ensures that the Medicaid reimbursement rate for home health agencies is at a minimum of $25 per hour
• emergency room visits are due to behavioral health issues, the wait times for mental health services, rates
• of medication errors and adverse incidents, and the success rate of transitioning patients from acute
• of medication errors and adverse incidents, and the success rate of transitioning patients from acute

Summary: The committee met to consider a large agenda of health and human services bills, moving quickly because of a two-hour time limit. Early measures reported favorably included SB 976 on challenges to court-appointed psychologists in family law cases, SB 306 on Medicaid provider network access and after-hours availability, and SB 584 on housing supports for college students and youth in extended foster care. SB 1412 on home health regulation modernization also passed, with one support appearance from the Home Care Association. Members then approved several bills focused on research and care delivery, including SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF with an adopted amendment adding academic medical centers, SB 524 adding Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, SB 1156 revising a Medicaid home health aide program for medically fragile children, and SB 1490 transferring and redesigning the managed care program for critically ill children. SB 1174 on foster home licensure transfers, SB 1620 implementing mental health and substance use commission recommendations, SB 1568 revising e-prescribing exemptions, and SB 788 on veterans nursing home beds were also reported favorably. The committee had more extensive debate on SB 1270, the Department of Health agency package, which included provisions on vaccination status, medical marijuana background screening, licensing and compact issues, and sovereign immunity for volunteer dental workers; it passed after an amendment and several members voiced concerns about patient treatment and “voting power” language. SB 1606 on patient access to records drew strong opposition from providers and health information professionals over privacy, HIPAA, and administrative burdens; it was initially reported unfavorably, then reconsidered and ultimately passed after a motion to reconsider. Other bills reported favorably included SB 1736 on insulin administration by direct support professionals and relatives, SB 1808 on patient refunds from providers, SB 1842 on referral disclosure of network status, SB 1354 on behavioral health managing entity oversight, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies with informed consent requirements, and SPB 7032 on presumptive Medicaid eligibility for permanently disabled individuals, which was submitted and reported as a committee bill. The meeting ended after all agenda items were handled and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• program, the full sales and use tax program at the treasurer's office and the economic development rate
• Where condos that would on average go for market rate of 1.2 million are being resold to Cottage Hospital
• However, fund balance reserve have dropped at an alarming rate in recent years.
• First, it will allow you to see how the industry response to the new rates and whether the fee results
• Second, you'll see how much actual revenue the department collects under the new rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state's credit rating is not affected by any of the work that we do, and the state's capacity to
• Is to provide generally tax-exempt financing, which allows them to get at a lower rate.
• Just wondering, do you have a rate of default that you could share with us? Mr.
• And I know it depends on birth rates and such.
• Those sorts of things, and birth rates have plummeted.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We have moved our children from 50th in the country in terms of child poverty rates to 17th.
• And I believe that the families need this money to Buy food for their family, pay their utility rates
• And New Mexico ranks very high in income inequality, and we grapple with high child poverty rates.
• That's a very conservative, and already it has grown in less than 6 months at a higher rate.
• And so we're anticipating a much higher rate of growth.

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• We haven't raised our rates in 20 years, so we've had the same rate out of respect to our storage clients
• And we provided those rates last session, and we can provide them again for this session with current
• The suicide rate for younger adolescents increased by 167% for girls. and 91% for boys.
• At an insane rate, a clip that we have never seen before in the history of our state, at least in part
• Parents can't say well you can go to... the movies but not rated R.

Bills: HB186 , HB517 , HB 1093 , HB 1268 , HB1395 , HB186

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, property owners' association, residential watering restrictions, vegetation, fine limitations, drought, technology, innovation, economic development, grants, Texas Economic Development, business funding, HB 1395, private passenger vehicle rental, car rental, vehicle rental

Transcript Highlights:

• largely ties the amount of the hospital lien and caps it at prospective payment system reimbursement rates
• and largely defaults to Medicare rates.
• Um, it's a challenging time, especially as the feds are looking to cut hospital reimbursement rates.
• So, that if you say that we're mandated to take a certain percentage of a Medicare rate that applies
• between what's being charged to insurance companies and what's being charged by hospitals—the full rate

Bills: SB210 , SB225 , HB280 , HB287 , HB94 , HB88 , SB157 , HB7 , HB8 , HB42

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, blood tests, DUI, law enforcement, traffic offenses, chemical analysis, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• From the health perspective, we see fires and floods caused by climate change, leading to higher rates
• Just reducing air pollution from fires and fossil fuels will lower rates of lung disease, heart attacks
• We can look at Louisiana's Cancer Alley, where cancer rates are 95% higher than the national average.
• fund grows, it will be a recurring source of revenues that can help us increase those reimbursement rates
• depends so much on Medicaid, in the event there is a federal reduction in the Medicaid reimbursement rate

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite high usage rates, these products are not consistently regulated by state consumer finance agencies
• 00:04:51.440><c> despite</c><00:04:51.840><c> High</c><00:04:52.039><c> usage</c><00:04:52.440><c> rates
• </c> instability despite High usage rates instability despite High usage rates these<00:04:53.080><c>
• Minnesotans, but to provide transparency and protection through disclosure and an annual percentage rate
• Minnesotans, but to provide transparency and protection through disclosure and an annual percentage rate

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection