Transcript Highlights:

• Today, my co-chair, Representative Levitt, will be participating remotely, and hopefully she'll be helping
• I had joined remotely and then realized you were right downstairs. And I apologize for my lateness.
• I had joined remotely and then realized you were right downstairs. Well, thank you.
• There are these remote areas. Providers are not accepting new patients, right?
• They're these remote areas.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs heard updates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Navy Region Northwest, Fairchild Air Force Base, the Coast Guard, state licensing agencies, the Washington National Guard, and a veterans behavioral health presenter. Across the military briefings, commanders emphasized readiness and major missions, while also highlighting quality-of-life issues affecting service members and families, including housing, child care, food insecurity, medical and dental access, and spouse employment. JBLM reported progress on 212 new family homes, ongoing PFAS cleanup, continued work on the Lewis Army Museum, and efforts to expand child care and food assistance. Navy Region Northwest discussed its economic impact, infrastructure projects, environmental stewardship, and future shipyard and homeport planning. Fairchild described its tanker and survival training missions, child care shortages, food insecurity during the shutdown, aging housing, and concerns about wind turbine development near military airspace. The Coast Guard highlighted its polar icebreaker buildup, rebuilding of Base Seattle waterfront infrastructure, and access-to-care challenges at remote stations such as Neah Bay, along with progress on housing and dental services. Committee members repeatedly raised support for military spouses, child care, food access, and licensure compacts. The Department of Licensing reported about 9,000 active military members or spouses licensed, with expedited processing, license portability, and an average time to license of just under nine days. The Department of Health said it had implemented prior military licensure laws, maintained a military-to-civilian crosswalk for health professions, and issued 129 credentials to military-trained health professionals and 1,300 to military spouses/domestic partners in the last fiscal year, all within 30 days. The Professional Educator Standards Board said military-affiliated applicants for educator credentials receive a streamlined process requiring fewer documents and expedited review. Members asked about verification of military spouse status, compact implementation, and whether future federal changes could affect existing interstate compacts. The Washington National Guard briefing focused on dual state and federal missions, election security, wildfire readiness, and a new National Guard Response Force requirement to train 700 personnel. The Guard also described the impact of the recent federal shutdown on employees and outlined policy and budget requests, including youth academy protections, alignment of the Washington Code of Military Justice with the federal UCMJ, making Civil Air Patrol a division of the Military Department, public records exemptions for critical infrastructure, 911 system improvements, disaster assistance funding, and capital requests for a new Joint Forces headquarters and a King County Readiness Center. Members pressed for more detail on drone threats, wildfire response, and whether the new response force would be used for immigration-related duties; the Guard said it understood the force to be intended for all-hazards response and would follow up. The final presentation, from a veterans behavioral health representative, focused on access barriers, suicide risk, and the need for culturally competent care, especially for women veterans and caregivers. The speaker cited high veteran suicide rates in Washington, long waits for services, and the ways child care, transportation, chronic pain, substance use, and military sexual trauma complicate treatment. No formal votes were taken during the meeting, but members and presenters discussed several pending or future legislative priorities, including licensure compacts, child care, military justice updates, and support for military and veteran families.

Transcript Highlights:

• I ask you to please vote yes on SB 22. Thank you. Thank you very much.
• I appreciate you guys considering our opinion and exhort you to vote against SB 22. Thank you.
• The tabling motion is the vote you're taking. Senator Stefanics? Senator Sedillo Lopez, yes.
• So by a vote of seven to two, your bill has been tabled. Thank you very much. Oh, I'm sorry.
• By a vote of five to three, you do have a due pass. Thank you very much for coming this morning.

Bills: SB22 , SB310

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County

Transcript Highlights:

• I ask you to please vote yes on SB 22. Thank you. Thank you very much.
• I appreciate you guys considering our opinion and exhort you to vote against SB 22. Thank you.
• The tabling motion is the vote you're taking. Senator Stefanics, yes. Senator Lopez, yes.
• So by a vote of seven to two, your bill has been tabled. Thank you very much.
• Would you please call the vote? Senator Stefanics? Excuse me, Senator Charley.

Bills: SB22 , SB310

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 22, which would allow certain motor vehicle manufacturers, including electric vehicle companies, to be licensed as dealers in New Mexico and sell/service directly to consumers. Supporters, including the sponsor’s office, Taxation and Revenue, Rivian, and clean-energy advocates, argued the bill would expand consumer choice, lower prices, improve EV access and service in-state, and bring new investment and jobs without eliminating existing franchise dealers. Opponents, including auto dealer associations, chambers of commerce, and franchise owners, argued the measure would weaken the franchise system, harm local businesses and jobs, reduce community reinvestment, and could disadvantage rural and tribal communities. After questions about trade-ins, tribal land sales, tax effects, and economic impacts, the committee voted to table SB 22 by a vote of 7-2. The committee then took up Senate Bill 310, which appropriates $1.1 million to the New Mexico Environment Department for planning, design, and construction improvements to the Mora mutual domestic water system. Supporters described aging water and wastewater infrastructure, an AOC related to discharge into the Mora River, flood and fire impacts, and heavy-metal contamination concerns in private wells. They said the project is part of a larger effort to address inflow and infiltration, improve treatment capacity, and protect public health, with additional funding already sought through the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and the Water Trust Board. Some senators questioned whether the request should instead go through existing water funding programs and raised concerns about piecemeal financing and the Environment Department’s role, but others supported the need for the project. The committee approved SB 310 on a 5-3 due-pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we urge you all to vote no on this. Thank you. Representative Curry.
• I've worked on the nonpartisan election protection hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE. vote for many years.
• I appreciate this bill and I hope you vote it out favorably. Thank you.
• Members of the representative curry a quick question this 866 our vote.
• We support it and ask you to vote it out favorably. Thank you members.

Bills: HB3146 , HB3719 , HB3895 , HB3923 , HB4748 , HB4751 , HB4936 , HB4952 , HB4990 , HB4991 , HB5061 , HB5196 , HB5238 , HB5246 , HB5487

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative hearings, contested case, contested case hearing, administrative law judge, ALJ, final decision, proposed decision, agency hearing, hearing continuance, rescheduling, Texas administrative law, Government Code Chapter 2001, workers' compensation, Department of Human Resources, Texas Labor Code, Transportation Code, Agriculture Code, Insurance Code

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. Okay. Lee F. present.
• Shall we vote on the motion? All in favor say aye. Opposed, nay. The motion prevails.
• the support from Chair Franzen and Chair Kosnick, and I really hope that members will join me in voting

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge the members to vote in honor of Al Quee and what he said, because it's the right thing to do.
• So members, I think we should vote this resolution down and get to the business at hand. Thank you.
• This has not happened since 1916, and I would encourage a yes vote. Thank you.
• Members, please vote. The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely.

Transcript Highlights:

• votes to join special votes or separate votes to join other<00:10:18.720><c> associations</c><00:10:
• And there's no special vote well.
• The committee voted ought were opposed. The committee voted ought to<02:00:38.400><c> pass.
• </c> committee voted ought to pass. committee voted ought to pass.
• The committee voted ought to opposed. The committee voted ought to pass. pass. pass.

Committee: House Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• there into the streets and people realize, hey, the chance of getting caught committing a crime is remote
• , the chance of getting charged is remote, even more remote, and the chance of getting convicted is even
• more remote, and the chance of going to trial and actually seeing some punishment by the time you get
• through all those levels of remote chances, the probability is low and the return on the risk-taking
• the federal judges not sure what they’re doing, and they’re kind of tied up at about a two-to-two vote

Committees: Senate Senate Judiciary , Senate House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote.
• All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote.
• All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote.
• All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote.
• All those vote who desire to vote, all those vote who desire to vote, all those vote. who desire to vote

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why ARS was set to sunset, and this legislature voted for that. It's now the law.
• supports the committee substitute for Senate Bill 152 and asks House Appropriations and Finance to vote
• I know there are folks in Indian lands that live in remote areas.
• Their kids have trouble with their homework because... ...that live in remote areas, their kids have
• Voting yes on Senate Bill 132 means New Mexico will meet today's demand and tomorrow's challenges.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 152, which would create a low-income telecommunications assistance program and continue support for rural broadband operations and maintenance through the State Rural Universal Service Fund. Senator Padilla and Office of Broadband Access and Expansion Director Jeff Lopez said the bill responds to the loss of federal affordability support and would help low-income households pay for broadband, while also preserving funding for rural carriers and maintenance. Supporters included the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the New Mexico Exchange Carrier Group, tribal telecom representatives, and several rural providers, who said affordability is the main barrier to service and that the bill would help families, students, and rural communities. A few witnesses opposed parts of the bill, arguing that the ARS funding should be redirected entirely to broadband affordability and that legacy POTS-line support should sunset. Committee members asked about ETC requirements, satellite and wireless options, rural density, and the sunset provision; the sponsor said the sunset on ARS would be removed and that stakeholder discussions would continue in the interim. The committee voted due pass on the Senate Finance Committee substitute for SB 152. The committee then took up Senate Rules Committee substitute for Senate Bill 132, which would add software planning and replacement to the state’s equipment replacement fund. The sponsor and expert said state agencies now rely heavily on software for core services and that planning for software alongside hardware would improve efficiency, security, and long-term sustainability. There was no opposition, and the committee voted due pass on the substitute. The meeting then shifted to a lengthy discussion of Senate changes to House Bill 2, the budget bill. Senate Finance staff described roughly 300 changes, including additional funding for fire response, early childhood, housing, health care, quantum initiatives, public safety, courts, transportation, education, and several social service programs. Members questioned cuts or reallocations affecting state employee pay, public school capital outlay, the state fair redevelopment, CARA, personal care services, the Office of Child Advocate, and other items. The presenters repeatedly defended the Senate’s use of funds as a way to preserve reserves while prioritizing health care, housing, education, and other recurring needs, and said reserves would remain above the target level even with the changes discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will the clerk please call the names of the members voting remotely? Coulter. Go ahead.

Summary: The House convened with prayer by Pastor Craig McLean of Grace Church in Eden Prairie, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call establishing a quorum. The journal from the previous legislative day was approved as corrected, and comparison report motions were adopted without objection. The chamber then took up second reading of Senate File 3720 and first reading of House Files 5134 through 5139. A report from the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration placed several bills on the calendar for Wednesday, May 13, 2026, and required pre-filing of amendments for House Files 7474, 5074, and 3067, and Senate File 4282. No substantive debate on the bills occurred in the excerpt. During announcements, Representative Niska said the Rules Committee would meet in Capitol G3 five minutes after recess, and Republicans would caucus immediately afterward. Representative Niska then moved a recess to the call of the Speaker, the motion carried, and the House recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did not say how I'm voting. I'm going to vote no, but there'll be a mixed vote here.
• I will remind members who are participating remotely that we will, wait, to indicate your vote of yay
• As every member voted, Representative Street, how do you vote?
• As every member voted, Representative Corey, how do you vote?
• As every member voted, Representative Levin, how do you vote?

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2219 , HB2245 , HB2283 , HB2343 , HB2406 , HB2501 , HB2574 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2156 , HB2188 , HB2206 , HB2478 , HJM4012 , HB1104 , HB1152 , HB1254 , HB1443 , HB1982 , HB2006 , HB2179 , HB2203 , HB2297 , HB2322 , HB2329 , HB2379 , HB2388 , HB2399 , HB2462 , HB2464 , HB2495 , HB2544 , HB2551 , HB2636 , HB2192 , HB2251 , HB2262 , HB2266 , HB2298 , HB2320 , HB2323 , HB2351 , HB2401 , HB2405 , HB2442 , HB2523 , HB2593 , HB2632 , HB2661 , HB1496 , HB1898 , HB2095 , HB2157 , HB2225 , HB2274 , HB2311 , HB2325 , HB2333 , HB2476 , HB2508 , HB2552 , HB1343 , HB1634 , HB1707 , HB1906 , HB1909 , HB2196 , HB2244 , HB2339 , HB2361 , HB2384 , HB2389 , HB2410 , HB2468 , HB2475 , HB2521 , HB2548 , HB2619 , HB2637 , HB2720

Summary: The House received a Senate message announcing passage of engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5156, then moved to second reading and final passage on several House bills. Substitute House Bill 2244, which adopts recommendations from the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee/Sunshine Committee to clean up public records exemption statutes, was advanced and passed 70-26 after Representative Mena urged support and Representative Walsh expressed mixed concerns about exemptions from the Public Records Act and voted no. The House then considered Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2196, a bill expanding coverage for treatment related to PANS/PANDAS. Members described the bill as helping families access expensive care such as IVIG, while opponents raised concerns about premium costs and the scope of coverage. Amendment 1883 narrowed the bill to large-group coverage and was adopted 54-36; Amendment 1943, which would have included PEBB and SEBB state insurance plans, failed. The bill then passed 83-13. The House also passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251, which reorganizes Climate Commitment Act account uses and related allocations, after rejecting a proposal to direct more money to transportation and forest landowner compensation; the bill passed 56-41. Additional measures passed with broad support. Substitute House Bill 2339, a technical update to nursing regulation and Board of Nursing rulemaking authority, passed 94-3. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2274, modifying the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act to address misleading email solicitations while limiting penalties for good-faith actors, passed 86-11 after a striker amendment was adopted. Engrossed House Bill 2179, narrowed by amendment to a single port district, passed 96-1 to address retirement contribution issues for port workers. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2637, updating protections for personal information entrusted to agencies, passed 52-45 after an amendment clarifying disclosure language was adopted; supporters said it improves data protection, while opponents warned of added bureaucracy and reduced local control.

Transcript Highlights:

• An important part of the change is to allow for remote marriage applications.
• </c><00:45:01.760><c> marriage</c> um is to allow for remote marriage um is to allow for remote marriage
• process remotely with the counties.<00:45:09.760><c> Allowing</c><00:45:10.240><c> couples</c><00:45
• By facilitating remote or health issues.
• </c><01:14:14.480><c> Uh</c> We also have Dave Benwood remotely to testify. Mr. Benwood, go ahead.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we have two testifiers, one in person, one remote.
• Okay, we have Brant Mayo remote.
• We have three testifiers, one in person and two remote.
• So if we could have Nicholas Garcia come to the table, and then we'll take the remote of Patrick Bishop
• All right, we have our two remote testifiers. That is Patrick Bishop, followed by Jason Hudson.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills related to transportation, utilities, housing permitting, and port financing. Substitute Senate Bill 6309 would give regional transit authorities, such as Sound Transit, more flexibility to apply for permits before acquiring property, exceed certain local height/setback limits when needed for rail systems, and use development agreements to vary local standards; the sponsor and Sound Transit testified that the bill would speed delivery of light rail and bus rapid transit, and an amendment was described to allow permits on property not yet owned if the transit authority remains responsible for obtaining property rights. Substitute Senate Bill 6076 would streamline procurement rules for public utility districts on clean energy, storage, transmission, and distribution projects by raising self-performance and contract thresholds, allowing limited noncompetitive procurement in certain reliability or specialized-technology situations, and extending some provisions until 2045; supporters from PUDs, labor, and industry said the changes are needed because of rising costs, long lead times, and grid reliability demands, while committee members asked about the size of the threshold increases and the scope of the bidding waivers. Substitute Senate Bill 5729 would prohibit local governments from charging applicants for third-party plan review when a licensed local staff professional of the same discipline has already reviewed the materials, while still allowing third-party review at the applicant’s cost in certain cases; the sponsor said the bill was narrowed from a broader version and was intended to prevent duplicative fees, and builders supported it as a permitting streamlining measure. Senate Bill 6132 would create a narrow debt-limit exception for the Port of Moses Lake to support a rail project and preserve federal funding eligibility; the port and economic development supporters said the project is ready to bid and needs additional borrowing capacity because of inflation, and the sponsor clarified that the bill is intended to apply only to that port. Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5374 would require tribal governments to be included in transportation planning coordination under the Growth Management Act and create a tribal traffic safety coordinator grant program; the sponsor emphasized severe pedestrian fatality disparities for Native people and said the bill is about consultation and safety, while county representatives supported the policy goal but asked for clearer cross-references to existing GMA consultation and dispute-resolution processes. The committee also took up Substitute Senate Bill 6070/6076-related testimony and, at the end of the hearing, announced that bills would be executed the next day and amendment requests should be submitted as soon as possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• deal with comparing ourselves to private and local governments for some of our law enforcement needs remote
• We don't do all remote work at the department.
• Look are looking for some sort of flexibility, remote work now on the current environment throughout
• biggest issues, that specifically where we're getting a lot of applicants that want some form or remote
• You might not get that chance of the private sector remotely work, but you're also probably not be working

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Low votes nay, do not pass. Macri, aye. Rule votes aye.
• Representative Obras votes aye. Parshley votes aye. Representative Parshley votes aye.
• Representative Stonier votes aye. Steve? Speaker, Steve votes. Representative Stonier votes aye.
• Representative Steeby votes nay, do not pass. Tye, vote aye. Representative Tye votes aye.
• Representative Stonier votes aye. Steeby votes aye. Representative Steeby votes aye. Tye votes aye.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several health-related bills. SB 5904 would restrict nursing titles such as RN, NP/ARNP, and LPN to licensed human people and prohibit non-human entities, including AI chatbots, from using those titles. The sponsor and nursing advocates said the bill is meant to prevent confusion and protect public trust, while preserving the use of AI as a support tool. SB 5877 would add a $70 surcharge for certified anesthesiologist assistants so they can participate in the Washington Physicians Health Program and access HealWA resources; supporters said it closes a technical gap and aligns CAAs with other medical professions. SB 5185 would create a pilot pathway for certain international medical graduates with clinical experience licenses to obtain full primary care licensure; supporters from the medical commission, physicians, and IMG advocates said the program has worked well, has shown no patient safety issues, and could help address workforce shortages. The committee also heard extensive testimony on ESSB 6210, which would let the Health Benefit Exchange adopt additional market-factor certification criteria for exchange plans, including standards aimed at preserving access and affordability in underserved counties. Supporters, including the exchange, OIC, consumer advocates, tribal representatives, and patient groups, said the bill is needed to respond to federal policy changes, rising premiums, and disappearing coverage in places like San Juan County. Opponents from carriers and employer groups argued the timeline is too fast, the criteria are too discretionary, and the bill could reduce competition and raise costs. The committee then heard SB 5981, which would strengthen protections and reporting requirements for the federal 340B drug pricing program and limit manufacturer restrictions on contract pharmacies and data requests. Hospitals, clinics, and patient advocates said the bill protects safety-net care and rural access, while manufacturers, employers, and business groups argued it would expand a program that already raises costs and lacks transparency. In executive session, the committee took action on SB 5917, related to Department of Corrections distribution of abortion medications, rejecting five proposed amendments and then advancing the bill on a 10-6 vote with three excused. The committee also advanced SB 5988, which concerns Department of Health opioid treatment program accrediting activities, on a do-pass recommendation after brief discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> green vote and request a roll call. green vote and request a roll call.
• So I urge a green vote and request a roll call." the votes for for and against be broken the votes for
• We can vote.
• Uh we have started voting by mail votes.
• We can vote. We can, you know, about it. We can vote.

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Obras votes aye. Representative Parshley votes aye.
• Representative Davis votes aye. Representative Low votes aye. Representative Macri votes aye.
• Representative Obras votes aye. Representative Parshley votes aye.
• Representative Tharinger votes aye. Representative Stuebe votes aye. Representative Thai votes aye.
• Representative Stonyer votes aye. Aye. Representative Steeby votes aye, Ty.

Bills: SB5877 , SB5904 , SB5988

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: anesthesiology, medical personnel, surcharges, licensing, healthcare regulations, nursing titles, licensure, healthcare professionals, patient safety, professional standards, opioid treatment, accreditation, health department, fee authority, substance abuse

Transcript Highlights:

• And then our second panel—just get ready, and they're going to be remote—Chelsea Murtha, Peter Godluski
• And then our second panel, just get ready, and they're going to be remote.
• I think Brian is remote, so we'll start with Brian and then move to the next panel.
• I urge you to vote for... We need to take steps to decrease plastics in our environment.
• I urge you to vote for House Bill 2233. Thank you. All right, who's up? All right, Marcia.

Bills: HB1420 , HB2233 , HB2271 , HB2212 , HB2284

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: textile responsibility, recycling, sustainability, environmental impact, consumer protection, waste reduction, environment, retail, bags, pollution, consumer products, plastic, environmental policy, postconsumer waste, microplastics, environmental protection, washing machines, water quality, litter reduction, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Vice Chairman of this committee, been a voting member of this committee for 13 years, and I always
• are continuing to work to attract other companies, especially those that want to operate in a more remote
• Spaceport America is no longer just a remote facility in the desert; it is becoming a hub for a and helping
• understand what all the different things that Spaceport is capable of: 18,000 acres in the desert, in a remote
• The citizens of those two counties voted to tax themselves.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee