Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> the</c><00:02:43.680><c> Office</c> The 1991 legislature created the Office The 1991 legislature
• </c><00:15:47.600><c> take</c> recommend that the legislature take recommend that the legislature take
• If the legislature, legislature, legislature, for<00:16:02.800><c> instance,</c><00:16:03.199><c> envisions
• </c><00:32:40.720><c> and</c> as a legislature and as a legislature and look<00:32:43.600><c> at</c><
• </c> to the Minnesota legislature. to the Minnesota legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• He noted that DEED has 136 directed appropriations from the legislature, totaling $268 million.
• </c><00:09:36.480><c> very</c> we do at the legislature very we do at the legislature very strategically
• relations, and basically request of the legislature to do so.
• I mean, I know we don't do that at the legislature.
• </c> know we don't do that at the legislature know we don't do that at the legislature we<00:48:25.040

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> know,</c><00:15:37.680><c> make</c> legislature to, you know, make legislature to, you know, make
• </c> issues that we face in the legislature issues that we face in the legislature or<01:17:41.400><c
• </c> legislatures in the future. legislatures in the future.
• </c> legislature, but of future generations. legislature, but of future generations.
• </c> legislature all day long. legislature all day long.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• At some point, this legislature has to be honest with itself and haul in...
• And we, the legislature, passed that bill.
• New Mexico needs diverse voices and lived experiences in the legislature.
• I would like to see the legislature further professionalized.
• We seem to have had great success in the legislature with our per diem.

Bills: HB99 , HJR5 , HM39 , HB206 , HB213 , SB41 , SB153 , SB165 , SB261 , SB264

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature has invested in research. We know research is important.
• The Constitution requires the legislature to determine fund. Is allocated to the A&M system.
• In addition to MVE distributions, the legislature appropriates GR for Hazelwood reimbursements.
• In addition to MVE distributions, the legislature appropriates GR for Hazelwood reimbursements.
• In addition to MVE distributions, the legislature appropriates GR for Hazelwood reimbursements.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So just waiting for the legislature to come in and just hack another 2% away.
• I need to be clear: this is not Agencies and the legislature.
• The gift is currently under threat by the bill pending in the Idaho legislature. Thank you.
• The gift is currently under threat by the bill pending in the Idaho legislature.
• I think. ...legislature. And that's what I think this correction will fix.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now consider what the legislature has already built.
• Every year, we hear two or three bills for more flags to be protected by the legislature.
• It's been bouncing around the Legislature, what, since 2020 or something? Yeah, Mr.
• Chairman, I have brought this before the Legislature. This isn't the first time.
• The Board of Supervisors, they implement statutes that the Legislature.

Committee: Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first considered SB 1825, which would shift the precinct committeeman vacancy application and nomination process from county party chairs to legislative district chairs where established, and require applicants to submit to the authorized chair within five days. Supporters said the change would streamline appointments, reduce bottlenecks in large counties, and strengthen grassroots, bottom-up party organization. County supervisors’ association staff said they had no objection to the district-chair process but raised concern that the five-day deadline for boards to act was too short. The committee adopted a do pass recommendation on SB 1825, with members noting the five-day issue should be worked out later. The committee then heard SB 1566, as amended, which targets malicious delays by municipalities, counties, the state, or state agencies in licensing and permit decisions, with a civil penalty and Attorney General enforcement. The amendment narrowed the bill to statutory licensing timeframes for single-family residential construction and clarified definitions and certificate-of-occupancy authority. The sponsor and home builders argued the bill would deter intentional delays that add to housing costs, while questions focused on how malice would be proven and whether the language was too broad. The committee adopted the amendment and gave SB 1566 a do pass as amended recommendation. Next, SB 1571, as amended, would bar monopoly utilities from passing marketing, sponsorship, community relations, and similar costs through to ratepayers, require annual reporting and attestation, and define the covered utilities. Supporters said ratepayers should not fund utility advertising or sponsorships, especially amid rising rates, while opponents from municipal and public-power utilities warned the language could sweep too broadly and interfere with legitimate customer communications, especially for smaller not-for-profit systems. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and gave the bill a do pass as amended recommendation. The committee also advanced SB 1501, expanding Administrative Rules Oversight Committee review to include whether agency actions exceed statutory authority, and SB 1805, requiring county recorders to verify the notary status on quitclaim deeds before recording them; both received do pass recommendations despite some concerns about scope and administrative burden.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature convened under the darkening shadows of potential financial deficit.
• The legislature convened are the darkening shadows of potential financial deficit.
• The legislature enacted a tax measure which restructured state and local taxes.
• The Gulf War began a few days after the legislature convened.
• The legislature had its work cut out for it.

Summary: The committee’s final day focused first on a historical overview of New Mexico tax packages by Pam Stokes of Legislative Council Services. She described how tax packages have alternated over the decades between tax relief, revenue raising, and tax reform, with examples ranging from the creation of the gross receipts tax in 1966 to major packages in 1981, 1986, 1991, 1994, 2005, 2019, 2022, 2024, and the vetoed 2025 package. Members discussed how tax policy often tracks revenue conditions, how packages can combine increases and decreases, and how local government gross receipts taxes and hold-harmless distributions have affected communities differently. Several members reflected on past packages, especially the 2004 food tax repeal and the 2013 film tax and manufacturing changes, and noted that tax policy can have major economic and political effects even when it is not “sexy” legislation. The committee then heard a proposal to expand the health care practitioner gross receipts tax deduction to include co-insurance, and to extend the sunset date. Sponsor Senator Figueroa said the bill was intended to help recruit and retain medical providers and build on prior deductions for co-pays and deductibles. Testimony explained that co-insurance is the patient’s share after the deductible, that providers currently absorb the gross receipts tax on those payments, and that the proposal would cost about $30 million to the state plus about $20 million to municipalities and counties, with the exact fiscal impact likely to be updated. Members raised concerns about the effect on local governments, whether insurers could be required to reimburse providers, whether the bill would actually attract doctors, and whether better evaluation measures and sunsets should be added. The sponsor said the bill was part of a broader set of efforts to address provider shortages and that the discussion would continue. Representative McQueen then presented a bill to update the Land Conservation Incentives Act. He and conservation partners said the program has protected more than 500,000 acres but has not kept pace with rising land values, especially for irrigated agricultural land in the Middle Rio Grande. The proposal would increase the percentage of conservation value eligible for the credit, raise the per-transaction cap from $250,000 to $2 million, and make the credit refundable rather than only transferable. Testimony emphasized that the program is voluntary, keeps land in private ownership and production, and helps land-rich, cash-poor landowners preserve farmland and water rights. Members asked about average credit amounts, how easements work, whether landowners could effectively buy land and then use the credit, and whether there should be inflation indexing or a statewide cap. The discussion also touched on water rights, fencing, and the role of conservation easements in protecting agricultural land and compact water deliveries. Finally, Senator Sharer previewed his 2% tax proposal with a historical presentation on New Mexico tax law, using props to illustrate the evolution from early territorial tax codes to the modern tax system. He argued that the state’s current tax structure is overly complex and that recent federal changes have disrupted the personal income tax base. The committee did not take any votes on the day’s presentations; the meeting was primarily informational, with members offering feedback and raising policy concerns for future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most are researchers, and we all complete performance audits for the legislature.
• Most are researchers, and we all complete performance audits for the legislature.
• This all led to five recommendations to DOH and one to the legislature.
• So this committee and the legislature heard us talk a lot about the losses coming up.
• And the legislature heard us talk a lot about the losses coming out of the pandemic.

Summary: The committee heard a JLARC presentation on the Department of Health’s oversight of hospital inspections, complaints, and reporting. JLARC said DOH was late on 72% of acute care hospital inspections as of December 2024, had not verified that third-party accrediting standards were substantially equivalent to state standards, did not consistently require proof of those inspections, did not review adverse health event corrective plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. JLARC also raised a possible language-access barrier in the complaint system. Members asked about complaint filing by staff, the meaning of adverse health events, inspection outcomes, and whether the audit compared DOH to other agencies. JLARC said it had not reviewed inspection results or cross-agency comparisons, but noted inspectors were dedicated and working long hours. DOH later said it concurred with the recommendations and outlined a strategic plan with target dates for improving timeliness, verifying accreditation standards, expanding language access, reviewing adverse event laws, and improving public data access, with annual reporting to the Legislature expected. The committee then heard a Department of Health presentation on certificate of need modernization. DOH described the current certificate of need process, which reviews need, financial feasibility, quality, and cost containment for certain facility changes and new services, and said the program has not been modernized since the 1980s. DOH proposed 10 statutory modernization recommendations, including clarifying the program’s purpose, creating a planning entity, adding flexibility, reducing legal costs, updating access-to-care standards, expanding oversight to freestanding emergency departments and urgent care, addressing equity, improving cost control coordination, strengthening long-term funding, and using better data systems. Members asked about oversight of freestanding urgent care and EDs, funding sources, and whether the process could be streamlined or made more responsive to complaints or other triggers. A third panel discussed artificial intelligence in health care. Lucy O’Rourke of the Coalition for Health AI described CHAI’s work on responsible AI principles, technical standards, model cards or “nutrition labels,” testing and governance tools, and educational resources for providers. She said the group is focused on trust, transparency, fairness, safety, security, and privacy, and noted Washington’s AI-related policy work as among the more progressive in the country. No questions were asked. The final portion focused on the financial impact of federal and state health care policy changes. The Washington State Hospital Association said hospitals are facing low or negative operating margins, service reductions, layoffs, and closures, and that state cuts and taxes enacted in 2025, combined with federal HR1 changes, will significantly worsen finances. Providence Swedish leaders described staffing reductions, service cuts, delayed capital investments, and pressure from denials, tariffs, and reimbursement changes, while emphasizing that frontline staffing cuts are tied to service reductions rather than nurse-to-patient ratio changes. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange then began a presentation on expiring federal ACA premium tax credits, state Cascade Care Savings assistance, and eligibility changes affecting lawfully present non-citizens, with examples showing large premium increases for customers if federal subsidies expire.

Transcript Highlights:

• And will the legislature get a copy of the projects that are funded?
• Russell, the authorization step is the step that we went through the legislature today.
• Russell, the power of the purse is one of the fundamental powers of the legislature.
• The legislature...
• The legislature your path. What our other technical assistance providers are helping to do.

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Summary: The committee heard several water-related bills and one memorial in a Saturday session near the end of the legislative term. House Bill 63, the annual NMFA Water Project Fund authorization bill, would authorize grants and loans for 113 eligible water projects across 28 counties. NMFA and municipal interests supported the bill, and members emphasized the need to move water infrastructure funding quickly. The committee voted unanimously do pass. House Bill 109 would temporarily remove the requirement for the legislature to separately authorize Water Trust Board-vetted projects through 2029, allowing the New Mexico Finance Authority and Water Trust Board to move projects forward more quickly. Sponsors and witnesses said the change would reduce a six- to 12-month delay, improve access for small and tribal systems, and allow more flexible application periods and technical assistance. Some members raised concerns about transparency, legislative authority, and equitable access, but the bill also received broad support from local governments, tribes, and advocacy groups. The committee voted unanimously do pass. House Bill 111 would modernize water enforcement penalties by increasing fines for illegal water use, including unlawful diversions, unlicensed well drilling, and failure to meter, while exempting valid water-right holders from monetary penalties for simple over-diversion and preserving existing adjudication orders. Support came from environmental groups, irrigation districts, the Interstate Stream Commission, the Pueblo of Laguna, and others, who said stronger penalties are needed to deter illegal use. Members questioned how the bill would affect farmers, acequias, service of notices, and existing water-right disputes, and sponsors said the bill had been revised to address prior concerns. The committee voted unanimously do pass. The committee also approved Senate Memorial 27, which urges state agencies to help publicize expanded federal RECA benefits for New Mexicans exposed to Trinity radiation fallout; supporters said the memorial would help eligible residents learn about and apply for compensation before the deadline.

Transcript Highlights:

• As sort of coming out of that has also been increasing concern from the Legislature about wanting to
• So it was intended... ...subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
• So all the projects are going to come back to the Legislature anyway, which is...
• I'm looking on page two down at the bottom, and it says the legislature.
• The legislature—we haven't been involved in that. You know, here we're handed this.

Bills: SB234 , SB210 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16 , HB8 , SB234 , SB210 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16 , HB8

Committees: Senate Senate Education , Senate House Education

Keywords: foster children, school transportation, education funding, public education, child welfare, New Mexico Highlands University, soccer field, women's sports, infrastructure improvement, funding allocation, student athletes, appropriation, New Mexico State University, nutrition, travel support, funding, education, university support, financial assistance, parenting students

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill does, Madam Chair, is it modernizes the legislature to reflect how New Mexicans live and
• And as we know, an unpaid legislature does not prevent corruption, but it invites it.
• Thank you. ...legislature. With that, we urge you to pass and support H.J.R. 5. Thank you.
• New Mexico needs diverse voices and lived experiences in the legislature.
• In comparison to a place like California, which is a full-time legislature.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe the legislature is coming online.
• . ...travesty since I've been in the legislature.
• We, the legislature, often don't hear about it until it starts getting to be a trend line.
• So it really is about reports to the legislature. Yeah, that is certainly your prerogative.
• So it really is about reports to the legislature. Yeah, that is certainly your prerogative.

Bills: HB2440 , HB2551 , HB2593

Committee: House Education

Keywords: education, ombudsman, record-keeping, transparency, advocacy, school funding, financial solvency, education budget, district financial health, state funding, accounting, budgeting, reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature convened under the darkening shadows of potential financial deficit.
• While it wasn't the Arabian Desert, the 1991 legislature worked in less than ideal conditions.
• The governor called a special session, and the legislature met for six S.B.
• The legislature had its work cut out for it. That year's package was House.
• And how this worked was the legislature came together.

Committee: Joint Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Our efforts have been significantly supported by the Florida Legislature.
• Senator Bob Graham Sue the legislature over the issue of whether the Legislature got to set tuition or
• And so the legislature sets the tuition in that government's agreement.
• But the legislature initiated through statute.
• Also because of legislation passed by the Florida Legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members, for the many years that I have been at the legislature, I have always been pretty
• The Department shall report to the Legislature or the Legislature Finance Committee if the Legislature
• And to send a nursing point a little bit, the legislature is the problem.
• And so, the legislature has got to determine how they're going to do this. I talked about a.
• The legislature will determine how it's going to operate, like every other state agency.

Bills: SB2

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas with immense sadness and profound regret that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
• Therefore, let it be resolved that the House of Representatives of the Legislature... ...of those who
• Therefore, let it be resolved that the House of Representatives of the Legislature does hereby express
• Senate Bill 163 by Senator Reese, to repeal prior acts of the Legislature. Transportation.
• , to provide relative to regular sessions authority to the legislature.

Bills: HR65 , HR66 , HR67 , HR68 , HR69 , HCR33 , HCR34 , HB1006 , HB1007 , HB1008 , HB1010 , HB1011 , HR58 , HR59 , HR60 , HR61 , HR62 , HR63 , HR64 , HCR32 , SCR2 , SCR5 , SCR6 , SCR11 , SCR16 , SCR17 , HB43 , HB447 , HB573 , HB1000 , HB1001 , HB1002 , HB1003 , HB1004 , HB1005 , SB8 , SB10 , SB12 , SB16 , SB20 , SB21 , SB22 , SB29 , SB32 , SB41 , SB42 , SB44 , SB49 , SB58 , SB68 , SB75 , SB77 , SB81 , SB97 , SB103 , SB159 , SB163 , SB172 , SB180 , SB182 , SB244 , SB248 , SB253 , SB254 , SB279 , SB306 , SB318 , SB334 , SB380 , SB385 , SB397 , HB53 , HB57 , HB64 , HB100 , HB102 , HB106 , HB111 , HB137 , HB152 , HB155 , HB177 , HB238 , HB256 , HB258 , HB272 , HB337 , HB350 , HB359 , HB363 , HB386 , HB434 , HB445 , HB546 , HB557 , HB584 , HB661 , HB697 , HB726 , HB727 , HB747 , HB752 , HB756 , HB758 , HB759 , HB765 , HB767 , HB825 , HB858 , HB930 , HB941 , HB957 , HB964 , HB203 , HB228 , HB234 , HB260 , HB268 , HB271 , HB285 , HB289 , HB351 , HB400 , HB413 , HB469 , HB534 , HB551 , HB552 , HB574 , HB576 , HB634 , HB649 , HB677 , HB735 , HB739 , HB779 , HB784 , HB796 , HB842 , HB850 , HB919 , HB8 , HB9 , HB10 , HB15 , HB16 , HB17 , HB18 , HB19 , HB22 , HB33 , HB34 , HB35 , HB44 , HB46 , HB47 , HB48 , HB61 , HB101 , HB126 , HB135 , HB142 , HB164 , HB185 , HB215 , HB226 , HB232 , HB233 , HB242 , HB284 , HB292 , HB297 , HB301 , HB334 , HB436 , HB468 , HB548 , HB571 , HB582 , HB593 , HB594 , HB609 , HB613 , HB712 , HB722 , HB732 , HB746 , HB827 , HB845 , HB848 , HB921 , HB923 , HB951 , HB953 , HB999 , HB733 , HB875 , HB952 , HB868 , HB119 , HB140 , HB52 , HB901 , HB193 , HB570

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then spent much of the morning on personal privileges recognizing guests and honoring individuals and organizations. Recognitions included the Zachary High School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams for back-to-back state championships, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity for Blue and White Day, visitors from Natchitoches Parish, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, the Parish Presidents Association, Crime Stoppers of Greater New Orleans, student parents pursuing higher education, and a delegation from Alexandria honoring the late Dr. Joe S. Green. The House also adopted or laid over several condolence and commendation resolutions, including tributes to former Northwestern State football coach Sam Goodwin, Michael B. Jordan, Richard Williams, and others. The chamber received a large batch of Senate bills and House bills for referral, covering topics such as retirement systems, highway memorial designations, criminal justice, education, health and welfare, municipal governance, insurance, natural resources, and tax policy. Committee reports were read across multiple committees, with many bills reported favorably or with amendments, and several measures advanced to third reading or were recommitted to other committees. Among the actions taken, the House adopted resolutions honoring community figures and organizations, concurred in several Senate resolutions, and moved a number of bills forward, including measures on criminal penalties, school policy, environmental regulation, insurance, and public retirement. Near the end of the session, the Speaker outlined plans for the next day’s floor debate, noting 54 bills scheduled and explaining that questions on bills would send them to the bottom of the list rather than removing them. The House then recessed until 3:30 p.m., with members instructed to return for regular order and continued debate on the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• But you know, coming to the legislature, um, we haven't had a bill or a need to come to the legislature
• But you know, coming to the legislature, um, we haven't had a bill or a need to come to the legislature
• But you know, coming to the legislature, um, we haven't had a bill or a need to come to the legislature
• But you know, coming to the legislature, um, we haven't had a bill or a need to come to the legislature
• But you know, coming to the legislature, um, we haven't had a bill or a need to come to the legislature

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the legislature has amendment.
• Uh the legislature I executive branch.
• </c> we've been mandated by the legislature we've been mandated by the legislature to<01:15:26.880><c
• </c> the legislature is incredible. the legislature is incredible.
• </c> number one for us as a legislature. number one for us as a legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• The 88th legislature provided $400 million in general revenue.
• And also, I wanted to mention, again, and and thank the legislature.
• What specifically is Sunset Commission asking the legislature to do?
• And did you have to come to the legislature to implement them?
• So we're asking in court is for the legislature to fund the program.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII