Legislative Update

 

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023

 

$9.4 Billion budget advances to Senate

 

The budget bill HB-2 advanced through the House floor late last week on a 52-17 vote that featured seven Republicans voting in the affirmative. Among east-side legislators Martin Zamora voted against the measure while Jackie Chatfield voted for the bill. Freshman Andrea Reeb abstained because of concerns raised earlier about her potential for conflict of interest where budget is concerned, since she is also serving as a special prosecutor in the Rust movie case which has asked for a special allocation to prosecute the case. The proposed budget would be the largest ever at $9.4 billion. That is a 12.4% increase over last year, which was up 14% over the previous year.

 

The budget bill would provide for approximately 5% in raises for state employees including teachers. The budget would increase the Public Education Dept. budget by 8.6% and beef up Medicaid by $218 million or 18%.

 

Despite the fact that the total budget tracks close to the same amount put forward by Governor Lujan-Grisham, she has made it known she’s not completely happy with it. She said it is under-funded in the areas of child care and support for the Opportunity Scholarship. It moves to the Senate Finance Committee, where it will be taken apart and reassembled.

 

 

Malpractice caps high-centered in committee

 

The House Health and Human Services Committee tabled a bill that would have capped medical malpractice claims for smaller providers to $750,000. The decision, essentially killing the bill, came after impassioned testimony from both sides. Republicans brought testimony that many providers would either be unable to buy malpractice insurance or wouldn’t be able to afford it forcing them to sell, retire or leave the state. Others testifying against the bill claimed negligence needs to have accountability. Democrats say they are working on other measures to retain and recruit providers and didn’t believe that malpractice insurance would be unavailable.

 

 

 

GRT reduction runs aground on municipality testimony

 

A bill introduced by a Republican Representative from Rio Rancho and backed by the Democratic Governor encountered rough sailing this week as municipalities caught wind of its devastating effects to their budgets. The measure sought to build on the 1/8 percent tax cut passed last year and yet to go into effect with an additional 1/4 percent reduction. That total estimated loss to local governments is estimated to be $70 million by the legislature’s fiscal impact report. Municipal League representatives say this could severely hamper the ability for city’s to provide raises, maintain roads and provide basic services. Proponents of the bill were after an end to unfair pyramiding of taxes on businesses for services such as accounting, tax services and legal work.

 

The bill’s sponsor Jason Harper agreed to the temporary tabling of the bill and told reporters that he figured the measure would be worked on and would most likely come back in an omnibus tax bill if it reappeared.

 

 

Alcohol excise tax increase stopped in committee

 

HB-230, which would have added a 25 cent a drink tax to alcohol in an effort to curb alcohol-related deaths and accidents as failed. The measure was tabled in the House Tax and Revenue Committee with Democrats splintering off to help table the matter.

 

 

You can never go back, or can you?

 

Companion Joint Resolutions introduced in the Senate and House calling for a constitutional amendment vote to return to a state board of education gained a bit of traction in Senate committee last week with a do-pass from Senate Rules after being marked up. Whether or not it gets an audience in the other two committees before it is yet to be seen. Chances for movement of the House bill are much slimmer.

 

The measure seeks to provide a more stable Public Education Department. In 2003 the voters gave the OK to move to a cabinet-level head answering to the current governor over a State Superintendent and elected State Board of Education. With the announcement of a new Secretary of Public Education announced today, the state has now had seven Education Secretaries since 2003.