Representative Thompson presented House Bill 79, an interstate licensure compact for speech‑language pathologists and audiologists, to the House Judiciary Committee and described the measure as a way to accept out‑of‑state licenses so providers can practice in New Mexico without a full new licensing process.

Supporters told the committee the compact is intended to expand access to speech and audiology services, including by enabling telehealth and by easing licensing barriers for spouses of military personnel. Dr. Michael Kaplan, a speech‑language pathologist and vice chair of the Speech Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Board, told the committee the board supports the bill and noted that many states have already joined similar compacts. Registered lobbyist Richard Romero said, “we are fully behind this bill.”

Melissa Salazar of the Regulation and Licensing Department told the committee that the agency’s fiscal impact report includes an operating budget request that was not part of the department’s original budget; she said an appropriation or authorization will be needed if the bill passes. Representative Thompson said she has received letters of support from Department of Defense officials and offered to provide those letters to committee staff.

Committee members adopted two technical amendments discussed during the hearing — one described as cleanup language adding an audiology licensing board reference and striking and replacing certain phrases, and a second adding required background checks to align New Mexico law with compact requirements. The sponsor and vice chair said they will ask staff to prepare a committee substitute that incorporates those amendments, then bring the sub back to the committee for a formal vote. The committee did not take a final committee floor vote on HB79 during this hearing.

Supporters who spoke during the public comment period included representatives of the New Mexico Speech and Hearing Association, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, Think New Mexico, Voices for Children Action Fund, AARP New Mexico, the League of Women Voters of New Mexico, Los Alamos County, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Department of Defense representative Kelly Mae Douglas gave recorded support emphasizing the benefit to military spouses.

No formal adverse motions or roll‑call votes on passage of HB79 were recorded at this meeting; committee staff will file a committee substitute incorporating the adopted amendments for the committee’s review and subsequent action.