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.