[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6026953,"mediaKeyId","5724777-97a04d1b0d04b4e6221d041ce8483ba0","parentId",5724777,"title","Votes at a glance: Committee advances multiple tax and economic bills — procurement caps, film loans, housing support and more","audioSeconds",14290,"startMs",82000,"endMs",14372000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5724777-97a04d1b0d04b4e6221d041ce8483ba0&start=82&end=14372","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5724777-97a04d1b0d04b4e6221d041ce8483ba0/thumbnail_82000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6026953/New-Mexico/Votes-at-a-glance-Committee-advances-multiple-tax-and-economic-bills-procurement-caps-film-loans-housing-support-and-more","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6026953-74307d193bd3145babcc98d554d612b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770584956&Signature=LxZzSNiAxsXiTr7Tyfo4Xnix2AToSo2LsX4r-8mgoHrHQPnNQI~lNigwgVROXoMRBW8Vw2cTFSPMhQm0Sap3BO~hspDsYtBb8YJtPF45hYJrKCnsE-R7UEcCdSpvb6hE91ooXvk9WHWw0JyiKROh8ALMC1Jn9YdslvJDjZGO68th2wKoyNksXtNBJnpY8nDTDgUiJY6boDF2i4DiMYyZKTLjS~2I0DbVi6fp0~RH9Z1q9b56ZOZtgTlfsj~5aPXVgm5PS3Ss04iNNh-uycNm7PEfvY~T2z4Vjm6m6xbAx6YpytyQDEwprvni6H0EtBOWEqdkliQqv--fhUGQY2PpTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation ","date","2025-03-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee moved a number of bills forward during the same hearing. Below are short summaries of each bill, the committee action, and the recorded vote when provided.

Votes at a glance

- SB 52 — Travel reimbursement modernization: Sponsor: Sen. Solis. Summary: Modernizes travel reimbursement language so private airplane reimbursement follows federal rates. Committee action: Do pass recommendation. Vote recorded: 8–0 in favor.

- SB 352 (autopsy photos) — Medical investigator records: Sponsor: Sen. Stefanik (presenter); Dr. Heather Gerald testified. Summary: Creates an exception to public‑records law to keep autopsy photographs confidential except when needed for civil or criminal proceedings; sponsors cited rising online posting of autopsy photos and privacy concerns. Committee action: Do pass recommendation (unanimous in attendance; roll called in committee).

- SB 413 — (See separate article) Change to Severance Tax Private‑Equity Cap: Committee action: Do pass 5–4 (see full writeup).

- SB 460 — Film project loans: Sponsor: Sen. Pinto. Summary: Clarifies that loans from the Severance Tax Permanent Fund may be made to independent New Mexico film projects. Supporters said preproduction loans helped create local productions and jobs; opponents flagged prior losses in the film loan portfolio. Committee action: Do pass recommendation; recorded vote: 6–3 in favor.

- SB 118 — Organ donor registry committee substitute (Sen. Stefanik): Summary: Committee substitute streamlines outreach for organ-donor registration across state agencies (QR codes, agency forms) rather than rewriting many statutes. Committee action: Do pass to Tax, Business and Transportation committee substitute; vote: 9–0.

- SB 422 — Affordable housing nonprofit operational support: Sponsor: Sen. O’Malley. Summary: $5 million appropriation over five years to NM Mortgage Finance Authority (Housing NM) to provide operational grants to nonprofits focused on affordable housing and homelessness work. Committee action: Do pass recommendation; recorded vote 7–3 in favor.

- SB 408 — Procurement cap increases (cooperative educational services): Sponsors: Sen. Gallegos cosponsored by Sen. Campos. Summary: Raises procurement thresholds to ease contracting delays and get construction dollars moving; proponents cited rising construction costs and reversions of unspent funds. Committee action: Do pass recommendation; recorded vote 10–0.

- SB 455 — Gross receipts tax (GRT) bill (Sen. Brandt): Summary: GRT matter; committee held the bill for potential inclusion in a tax package (no committee vote at hearing).

- SB 377 — New Mexico United specialty license plate: Sponsor: Sen. Maestas. Summary: Creates a specialty plate for the professional soccer club; proceeds to tourism. Committee action: Do pass recommendation; recorded vote 10–0.

- HB 66 — Workers’ compensation fee increases: Sponsor: Rep. (presented to committee; Senate sponsor listed). Summary: Raises attorney fee schedules and discovery fees to increase representation access in workers’ compensation cases. Committee action: Do pass recommendation; recorded vote 6–4.

- SB 318 — Update to Unfair Trade Practices Act (firearms and consumer protections): Sponsor: Sen. Cervantes. Summary: Updates definitions and statutory penalties in the Unfair Trade Practices Act and adds a provision addressing knowingly manufacturing or distributing conversion devices or components in violation of law; sponsors said it targets weapon-conversion devices sold online. Committee action: Do pass recommendation; recorded vote 6–4 (advanced to Judiciary).

Committee notes: Several bills were debated at length (notably SB 413 and HB 11) while others were advanced with little or no opposition. Several measures that could affect local budgets or market behavior elicited requests for additional fiscal analysis or oversight as they move to follow-up committees.

Ending: The committee’s slate advances a mix of technical updates, industry-targeted measures and policy proposals that will undergo further review in Finance, Judiciary and on the Senate floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation - Mar 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee advanced a package of bills on procurement, film financing, housing, organ donation outreach and other matters; recorded votes ranged from unanimous to narrow majorities.","taxTitle","Tax, Business and Transportation, Senate, Committees, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",65322,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6026962,"Senate committee narrowly advances bill to raise severance-tax private equity cap amid debate over risk and job retention",1135,571000,1706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5724777-97a04d1b0d04b4e6221d041ce8483ba0&start=571&end=1706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5724777-97a04d1b0d04b4e6221d041ce8483ba0/thumbnail_571000.jpg","/articles/6026962/New-Mexico/Senate-committee-narrowly-advances-bill-to-raise-severance-tax-private-equity-cap-amid-debate-over-risk-and-job-retention","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6026962-8e1007c42733fa987da42bfff7a5e3a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770584956&Signature=bUB2Hccx8RGbIA7Ou~GepwcnKaC6V9i4Q82MpEjOzu7IGZjhVMxlxU1wdh-nWcaMjalk6sw~LPnsRHUwqXuNfVt5B4KPU5YOpvu9ikPrU2mAZaoXuoYvjJ4d~-PSE-kjJ1G-eHCNV3s9hYhX2heM9I6Lgi42I3klQwUVmH0EU3FAyOdDENaGsHv5kHuL79YR4r1vPIei5gmeP5kMhcFdP21Qh0rPb4c5LTAEFdJzH1vpiNw4gDbCqR-1ctII8-RefmN84svzBsvraKqNyTaeF0wi25lDgPOLadGBtWjyyGr-EJiXvG~FQV831k~DqoJNbfMAKA2~RA3kK8g6T6HrIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 413, which would raise the cap on certain private-equity investments from the Severance Tax Permanent Fund from 11% to 14%, received a narrow do-pass recommendation from the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee, 5–4.

Sponsor Sen. George Pinto said the change is intended to give New Mexico a tool to keep scientists and entrepreneurs in state if layoffs at national labs drive them into the private market. “If we have a lot of talented people entering the marketplace … we can have the money available to do a private equity funding that would include those scientists and get them to stay here and develop their manufacturing,” Pinto said.

Why it matters: Backers argued the fund would let the state seed high‑risk, early-stage companies whose founders previously relied on national-lab employment. Opponents — and some skeptical committee members — emphasized the Severance Tax Permanent Fund’s purpose is to generate long-term returns for public services and warned that private-equity investments carry higher risk and have underperformed in the past.

Details and debate: The bill drew detailed discussion of the State Investment Council’s (SIC) record and the Fiscal Impact Report (FIR). Pinto and former Sen. Shannon Robinson told senators the SIC’s private-equity portfolio is still reflecting past poor returns and that the change would be permissive, not mandatory. The FIR shows the SIC’s private-equity allocations had negative returns in periods when some investments failed, and several senators said they wanted stronger safeguards and reporting from SIC if the cap is raised.

Sen. Adam Sherr asked whether the law could force companies that receive state-backed funding to remain headquartered in New Mexico. Pinto replied those residency and job-creation requirements are already in the bill, but warned enforcement has been uneven in previous investments and said oversight of SIC must improve. “We need to work with the state investment council to get them to understand … this is a jobs bill,” Pinto said.

Several senators also pressed on accountability, repayment expectations and the risk of “pay-to-play” investments — historical problems legislators said the state must avoid. Pinto pointed to recent responses from SIC and said the bill would not force investments; it would only allow them.

Committee action: The committee took a do-pass motion from Sen. Bergings and a second from Sen. O’Malley. The motion carried 5–4. The committee record shows the result as a narrow advance to the next step; the bill goes next to Senate Finance or other scheduling as the Senate process requires.

What remains unclear: The committee debate referenced an FIR and the SIC’s recent statements but did not produce an actuarial or formal, multi-scenario stress test specifically tied to the 14% cap before the vote. Senators asked for more transparency from SIC and for legislative oversight if the bill advances.

Where this goes next: The bill now advances with a do-pass recommendation; supporters said they will continue working edits and oversight language with SIC and legislative finance staff.

Ending: Supporters framed the bill as a targeted economic development tool to keep high‑value science jobs in New Mexico; opponents framed it as an unacceptable risk to a fund created to support long-term public needs. The vote was close and signals continued contest in subsequent committees.","Senate Bill 413, which would raise the cap on certain private‑equity investments from the Severance Tax Permanent Fund from 11% to 14%, received a 5–4 do‑pass recommendation from the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6026957,"Committee advances redesigned paid family and medical leave package; sponsors shorten leave and add newborn “welcome” rebate",3984,10384000,14368000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5724777-97a04d1b0d04b4e6221d041ce8483ba0&start=10384&end=14368","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5724777-97a04d1b0d04b4e6221d041ce8483ba0/thumbnail_10384000.jpg","/articles/6026957/New-Mexico/Committee-advances-redesigned-paid-family-and-medical-leave-package-sponsors-shorten-leave-and-add-newborn-welcome-rebate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6026957-dd74f47cf37a84fa01a2e5f2042701c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770584956&Signature=PNhFuLty7jbTX-QBmAn1c-qc069HDZRaied-ImuhDYnep6rcAkyXpkCZvgZbznuTHYK0DIC62MjYAY-brL59CzE3zYaSVxzqgfTtZz5-2vpY~uUsR3HL9B02Tfduqtuwna~9-t4E0NxrTStyCM4UpISzCdimgZ4GlxNn9C8Eks8qWFdz2OR1Ug7DT7dILJmld~D9adfD3s5Lmphw7vCNnbuGrt63Lu0InnmOd-tBC2ElUjqiusC5k473Q3o040bppxcpG2g31e28kooL7dSz6~KTtIH-iz8Q9ShjykN2KV6jvDXsmhoaKuVj0NDqvXg5NhhWmPoBg6yDUHTIab7P0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee voted 6–4 to give a do‑pass recommendation to House Bill 11, the “Welcome Child and Family Wellness Act,” a reworked paid family and medical leave (PFML) proposal. The bill would create a state-administered program of wage replacement for certain family and medical needs and also establish a separate, appropriation‑funded “welcome child” rebate for parents of a newborn or newly adopted child.

What the bill would do: Under the committee substitute, the program would provide up to six weeks of insured paid leave for a range of qualifying reasons (medical leave, caregiving, bereavement, safe‑leave and exigency leave). Employers with fewer than five employees are exempt from the employer premium; the sponsor cited a target premium in the substitute of about 0.15% employer / 0.20% employee in preliminary discussion. Separately, the bill creates a welcome-child rebate — a one-time payment intended to support bonding and early needs after birth or adoption — funded through appropriations rather than the premium fund.

Public testimony: The committee heard almost three hours of public testimony. Supporters included labor unions, child health advocates, AARP New Mexico, the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, and many individuals who testified about caregiving, cancer, transplants and birth experiences. “This financial support would be a tremendous financial burden lifted off my shoulders,” one parent said of a hypothetical rebate.

Opposition: Business and trade groups — including the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the Restaurant Association, construction and agribusiness organizations, and a broad coalition of chambers of commerce — urged rejection, saying the program’s cost, taxes on employers and employees, and operational impacts on small and rural businesses could be destabilizing. Opponents also warned the fund could become insolvent and stressed the bill needs an actuarial study before being enacted. “This would be a nightmare for employers,” testified Carla Sontag of the New Mexico Business Coalition.

Sponsor response and rationale: Rep. Maria Chandler, sponsor in the House and presenter in committee, said the committee substitute reflects stakeholder negotiations and compromises that reduced costs from earlier versions. Chandler emphasized the bill’s goal is to keep employees attached to employers during medical crises and to support family bonding after a birth or adoption. She noted the six‑week medical leave figure is a middle ground; sponsor materials cite longer leaves in other states and suggested the program can be expanded after an implementation window.

Committee action and follow-up: After public comment the committee adopted a minor technical amendment (clarifying start dates and adding “self‑employed” to a line) and debated a motion to table that failed. The committee then voted 6–4 to give the bill a do‑pass recommendation. Members asked for an actuarial study and more detail on assumptions; the bill text requires an actuarial review to be completed as part of implementation planning.

Bottom line: The substitute narrows the insured leave to six weeks and pairs it with a separate welcome-child rebate. The measure advances with a split vote and remains politically contentious: advocates argue it will make leave available to workers who cannot afford unpaid time off; opponents say the new payroll contributions and administrative burden will harm small and rural employers.

Ending: The bill moves forward with a do‑pass recommendation and is likely to attract further amendments and fiscal scrutiny in the Finance committee and on the Senate floor.","After hours of testimony from workers, unions and business groups, the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee voted 6–4 to advance a reworked paid family and medical leave bill (House Bill 11). The substitute limits the insured medical leave component to six weeks, adds a separate one-time newborn/adoption rebate, and sets low initial ","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Committee advances multiple tax and economic bills — procurement caps, film loans, housing support and more

Senate committee narrowly advances bill to raise severance-tax private equity cap amid debate over risk and job retention

Committee advances redesigned paid family and medical leave package; sponsors shorten leave and add newborn “welcome” rebate