Video & Transcript Research : '996'
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Commerce and Economic Development Jan 28th, 2026 at 02:54 pm
House Commerce & Economic Development Committee
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 28th, 2026 at 02:54 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Jan 28th, 2026 at 11:26 am
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Committees' Committee Jan 28th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Senate Committees' Committee
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Taxation and Revenue Jan 28th, 2026 at 10:02 am
House Taxation & Revenue
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Health and Human Services Jan 28th, 2026 at 09:07 am
House Health & Human Services
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Jan 27th, 2026 at 04:23 pm
Summary:
The House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee met with a quorum and heard two bills from Representative Martinez. House Bill 56 would appropriate $1 million to the Department of Veterans Services to expand behavioral health and suicide prevention efforts for veterans. Supporters, including the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Veterans Services, the Disability Coalition, New Mexico Professional Firefighters, the New Mexico Veterans and Military Families Caucus, and NAMI New Mexico, said the funding would help veterans navigate a difficult system, improve outreach in rural areas, and address New Mexico’s high veteran suicide rate and related alcohol and drug deaths. Committee members asked about whether the program was new or an expansion of an existing effort, how services would be delivered, and whether outreach would reach homeless and rural veterans. The secretary explained that the bill would augment an existing Suicide Prevention Act program, use contracts with outside providers rather than direct services, and require two term employees for contract management and outreach. The committee voted 7-1 to give HB 56 a due pass and send it to the next committee.
The committee then heard House Bill 55, which would create an income tax deduction for retirement income earned by first responders, similar to an existing benefit for military retirees. Supporters argued it would help recruit and retain firefighters, law enforcement, and other first responders, and could encourage retirees to move to New Mexico and contribute economically. Several members raised concerns about the fiscal impact, the lack of a sunset, the narrow definition of first responder, and Taxation and Revenue Department concerns that the bill could reduce general fund revenue by about $6.1 million in the first year and might not attract retirees on its own. The sponsor said he had not yet met with Tax and Rev but would do so, and noted he was open to a sunset if it helped the bill move forward. Despite concerns, the committee voted 7-1 to pass HB 55 to the next committee, with members explaining their votes and emphasizing that the bill would receive further vetting in Tax and Revenue.
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Consumer and Public Affairs Jan 27th, 2026 at 04:08 pm
House Consumer & Public Affairs
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Jan 27th, 2026 at 11:14 am
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Committees' Committee Jan 27th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Senate Committees' Committee
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Transportation and Public Works Jan 27th, 2026 at 09:07 am
Summary:
The committee met with quorum and took up only HB 3, the Department of Transportation Appropriation Act of 2026 for FY27. The bill was presented as an amended budget that would increase NMDOT’s operating budget by about $132.6 million, or 10.2%, using available cash balances, additional projected revenue, and contingent revenue tied to Senate Bill 2, the highway bond bill. Staff walked through the amendment section by section, explaining changes to project design and construction, highway operations, program support, modal programs, federal and interagency transfer lines, corrected performance-measure language, and added budget adjustment authority for the current and next fiscal years.
Several members raised concerns about the late circulation of a revised amendment and the appearance of multiple bill versions, arguing the committee had not had enough time to review the changes and that the process may have violated the 24-hour rule. Others asked for clarification on how the budget distinguished between rehabilitation and maintenance, and DOT staff explained that major rehabilitation is generally tied to STIP projects while maintenance is handled through district-level plans and contracts. Members also discussed the use of cash balances for non-recurring spending, the impact of electric vehicles on road revenue, and the need for more maintenance, litter cleanup, fencing, and beautification funding. DOT and executive representatives noted the amendment includes a significant maintenance increase and said additional non-recurring funding could also come through House Bill 2 and the capital bill.
The committee first rejected a substitute motion to delay action, then adopted the amendment and later voted due pass on HB 3 as amended. Public comment was opened, but no one spoke in support or opposition. After passage, members explained their votes, with some supporting the bill as a needed transportation investment and others objecting to the process and the compressed review timeline.
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources Jan 27th, 2026 at 09:05 am
House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs Jan 27th, 2026 at 09:00 am
House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs
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New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Jan 27th, 2026 at 08:32 am
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
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