The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee advanced multiple bills on Thursday, voting to recommend passage for measures addressing racketeering, third‑party litigation financing transparency, municipal stormwater utilities and several board sunset extensions. Committee members also approved a set of senate bills on consent.

Senate Bill 70: Expand racketeering statute

The committee gave a due‑pass recommendation to Senate Bill 70, a measure amending New Mexico's racketeering law to add several crimes to the statute's enumerated offenses. The sponsor told the committee the change updates an out‑of‑date law to allow prosecutors to use racketeering tools against organized‑crime enterprises engaged in modern criminal activity.

The committee heard support from prosecutors, law‑enforcement representatives and business groups. Deputy Chief Dale Wagner of the New Mexico State Police and JD Bullington of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber told the committee the change gives prosecutors additional tools to dismantle criminal enterprises involved in human trafficking, drug trafficking and related offenses. Rob Hart, director of the Organized Crime Commission and a deputy district attorney in Bernalillo County, told the committee the bill does not change the underlying crimes but lets prosecutors charge an enterprise where leaders profit from enumerated offenses.

The committee also heard opposition focused narrowly on the inclusion of cockfighting within the list. Several public commenters urged removal of that item on cultural and economic grounds; other witnesses noted cockfighting has been illegal in New Mexico since 2007 and that prosecution under a racketeering theory would require felony‑level conduct and proof of an enterprise. Committee members debated the point but ultimately advanced the bill. The motion for a due pass was moved by Representative Locke and seconded by Representative Borrego; the committee approved the motion by voice (no recorded roll call in the transcript).

House Bill 312: Third‑party litigation‑funding transparency

House Bill 312, which would require disclosure of third‑party litigation financing agreements in certain circumstances, received a due‑pass recommendation after debate. Sponsors described third‑party litigation finance as an opaque and growing industry in which investors — including hedge funds and specialized lenders — supply capital to plaintiffs or law firms in return for a share of a recovery.

Supporters including the New Mexico Business Coalition, the New Mexico Medical Society and the New Mexico Medical Society's representatives said the bill is a transparency measure, not a prohibition, and urged disclosure to protect fairness and guard against hidden influence, including potential foreign funding. Opponents, including trial attorneys who spoke at the hearing, argued mandatory in‑camera review and court‑ordered sanctions could raise separation‑of‑powers and constitutional concerns and that disclosure could give defendants a tactical advantage.

The committee adopted a motion for a due pass on HB 312; the transcript records a roll call: the motion passed by a vote of 6‑3.

Senate Bill 7: Municipal stormwater utilities

Senate Bill 7 allows municipalities to create stormwater utilities and charge a fee to fund routine stormwater management. Municipal officials and engineers told the committee that local governments currently use scarce street or general funds to meet stormwater requirements and that a dedicated utility — optional, set by local councils — is a common practice in other states to fund stormwater infrastructure and water‑quality obligations.

Supporters included the New Mexico Municipal League, municipal engineers and conservation groups; speakers said a modest, locally determined fee is typically used to pay for routine stormwater programs and compliance with federal water‑quality standards. Some committee members voiced concern about imposing new fees on residents and asked whether municipal councils would set rates equitably; sponsors said fees are optional and set at local public hearings. The committee approved a due pass; the transcript records the motion carried (voice vote recorded as "by a vote of 6‑3" in committee minutes).

Senate Bill 113 and consent items

Senate Bill 113, a technical bill extending sunset review dates for five boards, received a due pass recommendation with no opposition on the committee record. The committee also approved several senate bills on consent earlier in the hearing: SB 47, SB 75 (as amended), SB 82 and CS/SB 19. The consent motion was seconded and the chair announced those bills were "consented and passed out of this committee." No formal roll calls were recorded in the transcript for the consented items.

Procedure and next steps

Where roll calls were recorded, the committee reported the following outcomes in the transcript: HB 312 passed on a 6‑3 roll call. Several other measures were advanced by voice vote or unanimous consent; the transcript lists due‑pass recommendations for SB 70, SB 7, SB 113 and the consented bills. Sponsors and committee members indicated some measures will be refined or carried forward to other committees; HB 363 and HB 292 were rolled for later floor committee consideration.

Votes at a glance

- SB 70 (racketeering expansion): motion for due pass moved by Representative Locke, seconded by Representative Borrego; outcome: due pass (voice; count not specified in transcript). Key additions: sexual exploitation of children, criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual conduct, dogfighting, cockfighting, contraband in places of imprisonment, human trafficking.

- HB 312 (litigation‑funding transparency): due pass; roll call recorded — tally: 6 yes, 3 no.

- SB 7 (municipal stormwater utilities): due pass (voice; transcript records vote as "by a vote of 6‑3").

- SB 113 (sunset extensions for five boards): due pass (voice; no opposition recorded).

- Consent package (SB 47; SB 75 as amended; SB 82; CS/SB 19): approved on consent; no roll calls recorded in committee transcript.

What members and witnesses said

Prosecutors and law‑enforcement officials urged passage of SB 70 to equip district attorneys to pursue organized‑crime leaders. Rob Hart, director of the Organized Crime Commission and a deputy district attorney, said the statute lets prosecutors pursue "the people who are making a business out of it" while noting prosecutors must still prove the elements of an enterprise.

Supporters of HB 312 argued disclosure is narrowly tailored to transparency and consumer protection. Sponsors cited other states' actions and noted national examples of foreign funders discovered through disclosure rules. Opponents warned of constitutional concerns and potential tactical harms for vulnerable plaintiffs; trial attorneys asked that courts retain rulemaking authority.

For SB 7, municipal officials said a local, optional fee allows targeted maintenance and compliance with federal water‑quality obligations. Opponents cautioned about new costs for residents and urged that any fee decisions be subject to transparent local hearings.

Committee action summary

The committee advanced several bills to the next stage of the legislative process while rolling others for further work. Sponsors and committee leaders signaled ongoing drafting and stakeholder engagement in the interim on the most contested items.