Transcript Highlights:

• If a bad actor is, you know, in the business of, you know, misclassifying employees or or employees as
• an independent contract. misclassifying employees or employees as independent contractors, the federal
• into employers or contract employers, or employers, contract employers, employees, contract employees
• So if you’re a contract employee, essentially all…” “If you’re a contract employee, essentially all you
• , a regular employee, not a contract employee.

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee first approved the minutes from February 26, 2026 by voice vote. It then heard House Bill 738, which would allow an additional option for LLC organizers to list a commercial registered agent’s address instead of a residential/home address on the Secretary of State’s website, with the stated goal of improving privacy and safety for home-based businesses while preserving existing LLC formation options. Representative Dygert said the bill was developed with input from the Secretary of State’s office and that other states use similar approaches. After questions about the definition and use of commercial registered agents, the committee voted to send HB 738 to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 645, a proposal to create voluntary portable benefits accounts for independent contractors and other 1099 workers. Majority Leader Den Hartog and a supporting witness described the bill as a way for contractors and hiring entities to contribute to worker-owned accounts that could be used for benefits such as health, disability, life, retirement, income replacement, and unemployment insurance, with administration by approved third-party providers under Department of Insurance oversight. Supporters argued the bill would expand flexibility and access to benefits without changing worker classification, and noted similar laws in other states. Opponents, including the Idaho AFL-CIO, warned the bill could worsen worker misclassification, blur the line between employees and contractors, and create concerns about immigration verification, workers’ compensation, and tax treatment. Committee members raised repeated questions about whether the bill could affect the right-to-control test, workers’ compensation, federal classification rules, and whether the accounts might be used without health coverage. The sponsor and witness responded that the bill would not alter existing classification law, would not create an employer-employee relationship, and would remain subject to federal law. After closing debate, the committee approved HB 645 on a 5-4 roll call vote and sent it to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• the State Employees Association.
• So first of all, it only affects group one employees who are state employees.
• it has nothing to do with employees it has nothing to do with Municipal<04:08:02.640><c> Employees</
• and school employees, right?
• from other Group 1 employees.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 622, but after the sponsor said further research raised concerns, he asked that the bill be tabled. The committee then moved in executive session and voted unanimously to find the bill inexpedient to legislate, sending it to consent. The committee also retained House Bill 349, the ophthalmologic laser bill, after members said more time was needed for the professions involved to work out training standards and provide additional information; that motion also passed unanimously. The committee then discussed House Bill 244, a municipal building/fire code recodification measure. Members said the bill needed more review and careful scrutiny because of its length and possible unintended effects, and they voted unanimously to retain it as well. House Bill 534 was then heard; the sponsor said the bill did not do what was intended because of a misunderstanding about current processing, and the committee voted inexpedient to legislate and placed it on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 233, with an amendment to remove a requirement affecting the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. Supporters argued the bill would reduce an unnecessary burden and improve transparency, while opponents said the committee should not single out one private 501(c)(3) organization. The amendment was adopted 8-5, and the bill as amended then passed 7-6; a minority report was requested. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 536, a proposed 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment for certain state retirees. The sponsor and supporters argued retirees had not received adequate COLAs and that the bill would help offset inflation, while the retirement system testified that the proposal would add significant costs, including an estimated $1.5 million for the state, $6.6 million for political subdivisions, and about $100.7 million in present-value unfunded liability, with the impact reflected in future employer contribution rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Healthcare Authority for state employees, APS for APS employees, and NMSIA for all other public school
• employees.
• share of premiums between state employees and public school employees.
• We're gonna place a pretty big burden on employees.
• It's not, it's not fair that we don't pay for, um, other state employees. Employees, uh, premiums.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh they Future, employees did just that.
• </c> Under this bill, uh which an employee Under this bill, uh which an employee who<00:06:49.520><c>
• </c><00:07:38.080><c> and</c> concerns brought uh by employees and concerns brought uh by employees and
• </c> particularly public employees. particularly public employees.
• </c> the capacity of such officer or employee the capacity of such officer or employee makes<00:10:26.080

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I am also a current state employee.
• , and that this employee is trained.
• During my 10 years as a state employee and my four years as a union officer, I have witnessed employees
• they were two-year employees or five-year employees or six-month employees.
• There are members of DPS employees, sorry, members at DPS that are covered as classified employees, but

Transcript Highlights:

• The employee portion of which is also eventually owed back to the employer by that employee. that are
• </c> portion of the lost wages of employees portion of the lost wages of employees who<00:04:53.479><
• </c> here paying also the employee here paying also the employee subsequently<00:05:32.280><c> owes</
• </c> that employee that employee so<00:06:00.759><c> employees</c><00:06:01.560><c> that</c><00:06:01.720
• can</c><00:07:08.520><c> plan</c> the employees so the employeed can plan the employees so the employeed

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the same and just treatment as other transit and public sector employees currently enjoy.
• First, classified employees do not currently have a clearly defined impartial review.
• to what is provided to certificated employees.
• union representing nearly 300,000 classified school employees across the state.
• Previous law already required this for certificated employees.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard several bills, beginning with SB 1166 by Senator Arreguín, which would allow AC Transit and its employees to use the Public Employment Relations Board to resolve unfair labor practice charges instead of the courts. The author and union supporters said PERB would provide a faster, fairer, and more specialized process, while no opposition testified. The committee members expressed support, and SB 1166 was approved on a due pass motion and re-referred to Appropriations. The committee also took up consent items SB 1024, SB 1207, and SB 1444, which were moved on consent and placed on hold for absent members. Later, SB 1083 by Senator Perez was heard; it would refine last year’s school misconduct database law by adding an administrative law judge review process for classified employees, requiring stronger employer notification and record-sharing procedures, and extending vetting requirements to certain contracted workers. Supporters, including classified employees and labor groups, argued the bill adds due process and fairness while preserving student safety. Opponents, including school administrators, school districts, and liability organizations, argued it could create gaps in misconduct records, increase liability, and weaken protections for students. After discussion, the author said he was continuing to work with opponents on amendments and emphasized the bill’s goal of balancing due process with child safety, referencing his own experience with grooming as a student. SB 1083 was passed on a due pass motion and re-referred to the Committee on Education. The chair then announced that all bills had passed and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• State employees' unions are not permitted to communicate with employees about that information through
• And so other unions that represent other state employees, like school district employees, for example
• The minimum fine starts at $2,000 and jumps to $20,000 for 11 employees, including part-time employees
• And these are not bad employees; these are good employees they have to let go.
• And these are not bad employees. These are good employees. They have to let go.

Bills: HB2091 , HB2105 , HB2218 , HB2107 , HB2137 , HB2243 , HB2264

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, immigrant worker protections, immigrant rights, worker protections, I-9 audit, Form I-9, employment eligibility verification, workplace raid, federal immigration inspection, employer notice, anti-retaliation, retaliation, Attorney General enforcement, private right of action, labor law, workplace rights

Transcript Highlights:

• It's fewer than 50 employees, and 50 employees is very vague.
• $300 an employee.
• or to recruit employees.
• or to recruit employees.
• Per employee. Yes.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These employees come in to work every day, right?
• Employees with the same job title and duties.
• I do the same job as a full-time employee.
• There's a standing employee Public Employees Labor Relations Board matter pending.
• Is there a temporary employee?

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee met and first heard House Memorial 7, which asks Legislative Council Service, the State Personnel Office, DFA, and GSD to study the use of temporary, term, seasonal, casual, on-call, and other non-regular classifications in state government. The memorial was presented as a response to concerns that some workers are repeatedly terminated and rehired, sometimes after a one-day break, to avoid regular status and associated benefits. Testimony from CWA and AFSCME described long-term temporary workers at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and other agencies who allegedly do full-time work without health insurance, retirement, leave, or consistent pay progression, and who in some cases were denied union coverage. Committee members questioned the scope, definitions of temporary employment, and whether the issue should instead be referred to the state auditor; the sponsor said the study would gather data and recommendations first. The committee voted due pass, and House Memorial 7 passed unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 177, which appropriates funds to the Veterans Services Department to contract for shelter and care of service and companion animals so veterans can access housing, medical care, and other services without fearing separation from their pets. Support came from the Veterans Services Department, Animal Protection New Mexico, and the Veterans and Military Families Caucus/Veterans Integration Center, all of whom said pets are often a barrier to veterans seeking care and that existing community-based animal boarding models could be used. The bill received no opposition, and the committee voted due pass with no opposition. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 43, a PERA cleanup bill intended to update and clarify the Public Employees Retirement Act and align it with administrative practice. Testimony focused on a provision allowing PERA to use licensed physicians, including out-of-state physicians who can be licensed in New Mexico, to serve on the disability review process when needed so disability cases are not delayed. Committee members raised concerns about ensuring medical expertise and avoiding abuse of the licensing flexibility, but PERA explained the change was meant to address recruitment difficulties and maintain timely review. The committee voted due pass on House Bill 43.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:22:04.240><c> the</c> between employers and employees the between employers and employees the
• </c><00:22:18.840><c> often</c> with employers and employees often with employers and employees often
• </c> the importance of providing employees the importance of providing employees with<00:28:52.360><c
• </c> administrative system and and employees administrative system and and employees can<00:30:02.519
• </c><00:41:52.720><c> support</c> developed strong employee support developed strong employee support

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the same and just treatment as other transit and public sector employees currently enjoy.
• to what is provided to certificated employees.
• A union representing nearly 300,000 classified school employees across the state.
• inconsistent. ...professional and personal lives of innocent classified school employees.
• Previous law already required this for certificated employees.

Committee: House Public Employment and Retirement

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any employee of these departments who leaves his or her position but remains a state employee is to be
• Any employee of these departments who leaves his or her position but remains a state employee is to be
• Any employee who leaves his or her position but remains a state employee is to be transferred to the
• of an agency may, if voluntarily agreed to by the employee, be donated to another designated employee
• After hiring an employee, an employer may employ, instead of shall employ, provisionally a new employee

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the federal employees said they just hadn't gotten around to that yet.
• And in some cases, like Feeding Our Future, employees did just that.
• Even though it may be illegal, the employee is still doing it.
• Even though it may be illegal, the employee is still doing it.
• I worry about the news of the DHS employee. I was extremely concerned about that.

Bills: HF3489 , HF3990 , HF3825 , HF3826 , HF3827 , HF3822

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: grooming, child protection, student safety, sexual exploitation, educator licensing, teacher discipline, mandatory reporting, mandated reporter training, school misconduct, predatory offender, child abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, position of authority, school employee, school administrator, license revocation, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• Like I said, I've been a state employee since 2016.
• I mean, do we know if it's 1,000 employees, 2,000 employees, 3,000, 4,000?
• It's a cost to the employees because now the employees who have been remote workers are going to have
• There's like 1,600 employees.
• There's like 1,600 employees.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an informational update on the state’s generative AI implementation and related oversight. Administration officials said several proof-of-concept projects have moved into minimum viable product phases, including work at CDTFA and Caltrans, and that CDPH has a May Revision request for up to $8 million to scale up its healthcare facilities inspections project. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the administration to publish a report on lessons learned from each POC and recommended limiting the new generative AI approval process to a pilot through the first two rounds of projects, with continued monthly meetings and stronger legislative oversight. Members pressed for more transparency and questioned why the CDPH request was not included in January; the administration said the cost estimate was not available then and that only one project is seeking additional resources beyond existing departmental budgets. The committee then reviewed a proposed $400 million loan from the Labor and Workforce Development Fund to the General Fund. Finance and the Labor Agency said the fund has grown because civil penalty revenues have risen sharply, and the loan would be repaid in 2029-30 with provisional language allowing earlier repayment if needed. The LAO agreed the fund could support the loan but warned that recent PAGA reforms may reduce future revenues. Public commenters, including labor and community groups, argued the money should instead support labor-law enforcement and outreach programs such as CWOP, and urged rejection of the loan. Members also heard a Department of Industrial Relations request for $19.1 million for phase two of Public Works Information Technology System Enhancements, which officials said will support labor-law enforcement and apprenticeship registration. The department said the project was delayed because a prior procurement did not result in a contract award and that completion is now expected in October 2026. The committee then took up an EDD Next reappropriation technical adjustment to extend UI fund spending authority through June 30, 2026; the LAO said the request was fine but again raised concerns about oversight of the larger modernization effort, which EDD said now totals more than $660 million and is expected to continue through 2029. Finally, the committee discussed DGS’s request for new parking facilities near the May Lee Building and a trailer bill shifting statewide telework policy language from DGS to CalHR while also expanding NDI eligibility for certain CEA employees. The LAO said the telework trailer bill should likely go through the policy committee process instead of budget, and union and employee witnesses strongly opposed it, arguing it would undermine bargaining rights and could be used to narrow telework. In a separate item on the governor’s return-to-office order, administration officials said departments are being directed to move to a four-day in-office expectation starting July 1, 2025, but they had no statewide cost estimate yet because departments are still assessing vacancies, exemptions, and space needs. Members criticized the lack of analysis and said the state should have clearer numbers before moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the employees are at. the employees are at.
• . employee. employee.
• </c> per employee. per employee.
• Um how, you know, voluntary by the<02:09:19.600><c> employees,</c> the employees, the employees, you'd
• </c> between the employees. between the employees.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Employee leasing companies like Insperity are also known as professional employee organizations, or PEOs
• The employee leasing. All right.
• The employee leasing. All right.
• </c> that the employee may not get covered. that the employee may not get covered.
• I don't see why of the employee.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• improved or unchanged when employees were teleworking three or more days per week.
• We would love your support on behalf of ACSS and PEG members and all state employees.
• I am a new state employee and I fully support this bill.
• CTA believes that all educational employees should...
• We do not impose support to employees facing long-term illness.

Committee: House Public Employment and Retirement

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The statute authority employees.
• </c> protected employees. protected employees.
• </c> authority, and simply adds HR employees authority, and simply adds HR employees to<00:02:01.360>
• HR employees supports Protecting HR employees supports workforce<00:02:21.120><c> stability,</c><00:
• </c> an employee or agent of an HR occurs. an employee or agent of an HR occurs.

Bills: HF4141 , HF3951

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: housing authority, criminal penalty, assault, public safety, redevelopment, submetered utility service, tenant rights, digital payment, eviction protection, housing policy, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• How many employees will it be? What will be the office space?
• I mean, do we know if it's 1,000 employees, 2,000 employees, 3,000?
• Yes, and we are asking statewide for these employees to return.
• It's a cost to the employees because now the employees who have been remote workers are going to have
• And the enrollment for active state employees.

Keywords: 988, house, all