legislative issues 2015 regular session€¦ · title: microsoft word - legislative issues 2015...
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LEGISLATIVE ISSUES 2015 REGULAR SESSION
! ANIMAL BILLS
HB 426 NM WILDLIFE PROTECTION & PUBLIC SAFETY ACT RESTRICTING USE OF TRAPS AND POISONS ON NM PUBLIC LANDS Assigned to HAWC. Failed 8-‐2. DOA (API)
HB 410 NO TRANSFER OR SLAUGHTER OF HORSES FOR FOOD HB 411 INCLUDE EQUINES IN ANIMAL CRUELTY LAW 2/11 Tabled in HAWC DOA (API) HB 415 DOG/CAT NEUTER/SPAY Passed House 62-‐1 Smith Yes Passed Senate 36-‐0 Sapien Yes. Signed by Governor HB 586 COUGAR HUNTING & TRAPPING Passed HAWWC 8-‐2. Sent to HRPAC. DOA (API)
Removes state oversight and leaves them unprotected as a “varmint” status, allowing them to be shot or trapped any time, any place.
HM 117 ANTI WOLF MEMORIAL Passed HAWC 6-‐2. To House Calendar. DOA
Andy Nunez was asked in committee how many wolves would be acceptable in NM. He answered, “zero.” The intent of this memorial is to facilitate the destruction of wolf recovery.
HB 564/SB 307 RIGHT TO FARM & OPERATIONS AS NUISANCE. Passed House 35-‐29. Smith excused. Sent to SCC and passed 6-‐2. Called Sapien. To SJC. DOA (API) Agribusiness pollution. This bill would clarify that farm operations are not nuisances and allow pollution of water and air.
HB 300 INTERFERENCE WITH ZOO ANIMALS AND CRUELTY. Passed House
66-‐0. Smith Yes. Sent to Senate. Passed SJC 8-‐2. To Senate Calendar. DOA (API)
SB 178 CARE FOR ANIMALS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS. Passed SPAC 5-‐3. Sent to SFC. DOA (API)
SB 221 REPORT LIVESTOCK INJURIES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT SEN. PIRTLE Passed SCONC 6-‐4. Sent to SJC. DOA (API)
This bill impedes whistleblower activity at the expense of animal welfare, environmental protection, food safety and worker safety by requiring video and digital recordings to be reported within 24 hours, eliminating the ongoing opportunity to investigate misdeeds.
SB 82 NO USE OF DRONES FOR HUNTING. Passed SCONC 9-‐0. Sent to SJC. DOA (API) SB 253 PROHIBIT & DEFINE COYOTE KILLING CONTEST. Passed Senate 27-‐13. Sapien Excused. 2/27 Sent to HAWC DOA (API) 1
ANIMALS: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: Dog/Cat neuter/spay Signed by Governor Defeated these from passing: Cougar hunting/trapping anywhere, anytime, Anti-‐wolf memorial, Right to farm & operations as nuisance, Impeding whistleblower activity at the expense of animal care Failed to pass: Restricting traps/poison on public lands, Transfer/slaughter of horses for food, Interference with zoo animals, Care for animals of domestic violence victims, No use of drones for hunting, Prohibit coyote killing contests.
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! ABORTION BILLS HB 390 LATE TERM ABORTION BAN 2/20 Passed HRPAC 4-‐3. 2/23 Passed HJC 7-‐6. 3/10 Passed House on a party line vote 42-‐26. Smith Yes. Sent to Senate as House tried to avoid SPA Committee. 3/15 Tabled in SPAC DOA (API) This bill includes a disturbing clause quietly added at the end that would allow pharmacists or other medical staff to arbitrarily refuse medications to women based on their moral or personal grounds. HB 391 PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OF ABORTION ACT 2/20 Passed HRPAC 4-‐3. 2/27 Passed HJC 7-‐6. Passed House 39-‐28 on party line vote. Smith Yes. 3/15 Tabled in SPAC. DOA (API)
SB 437 PHYSICIAN ADMITTING PRIVILEGES FOR ABORTION. 3/15 Tabled in SPAC. DOA (API)
ABORTION: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: Defeated these from passing: Ban late-‐term abortions, supporting the Bernalillo County vote, Require parental notification when minors seek abortions, Physician admitting privileges for abortion. Failed to pass:
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! CAMPAIGN/PUBLIC FINANCING BILLS
SB 58 CAMPAIGN PUBLIC FINANCING CHANGES Passed SRC 7-‐3. Passed SJC 8-‐0. Passed Senate 30-‐9 Sapien Excused. 3/10 Passed HGEIC 7-‐0. Smith Yes. Sent to HJC. DOA (API)
SB 289 PUBLIC FINANCING OF LEGISLATIVE RACES 2/25-‐3/10 in SRC where it stayed. DOA (API) SB 384 CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE SMITH/WIRTH 2/25-‐3/10 SRC where it stayed. DOA (API) SB 689 PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE NO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS 3/10 Passed SRC 6-‐1. Sent to SJC. DOA (API) HB 205 PUBLIC FINANCING OF LEGISLATIVE RACES Passed HGEIC 7-‐2
on 2/11. Smith Yes. 2/18 Passed HJC 7-‐6 Sent to HAFC. DOA (API)
HB 278 CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE SMITH/WIRTH 3/3 Passed HSCAC 7-‐1. 3/12 Passed HGEIC 7-‐1. Smith Yes. Sent to HJC. DOA
This is a sister bill to SB 384 which sat in the SRC where it stayed, DOA (API) The bill was in answer to the Citizen’s United Supreme Court ruling of 2010 and would improve transparency in elections. A national conservative group, the Center for Competitive Politics, told House leaders in a 17 Feb. letter that the bill would chill free speech rights of independent expenditure groups by making them say who is paying for their ads.
CAMPAIGN/PUBLIC FINANCING BILLS: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: None Defeated this from passing: No campaign contributions limits Failed to pass: Campaign public financing changes, Public financing of legislative races, Campaign finance disclosure (House) Campaign finance disclosure (Senate)
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! DRIVER’S LICENSES/IMMIGRANTS BILLS
HB 32 RESTRICT DRIVER’S LICENSE ISSUANCE. PACHECO Passed HSCA 5-‐4. Passed HJC 7-‐6. Passed House 39-‐29. Smith Yes. Sent to SPAC. DOA (API)
This bill called for the removal of driver’s licenses from Immigrant families. HB 79 DRIVER’S LICENSES TO FOREIGN NATIONALS/REHM Passed SCAC 5-‐4 on 1/29. Sent to HJC. DOA (API)
B 653 TWO-‐TIRED DRIVER’S LICENSES/INGLE. Passed SPAC 5-‐3 on 3/12. Passed SJC 9-‐1 on 3/19. Passed Senate 35-‐5. Sapien Yes.
Bipartisan votes. Sent to HSCAC. DOA (API)
DRIVER’S LICENSES: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: None Defeated this from passing: Banning issuance of driver’s licenses to immigrants Failed to pass: Creation of two-‐tier driver’s licenses
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! ETHICS/TRANSPARENCY BILLS
HB 241 PUBLIC OFFICIALS AS LOBBYISTS Passed HGEIC 8-‐0 on 2/16. Smith Yes. Passed HJC 10-‐1 on 2/26. Passed House 57-‐10 on 3/9. Smith Yes. Sent to SRC. DOA (API)
HB 254 HAZARDOUS OFFICER COMPELLED STATEMENT RELEASE Passed HGEIC 7-‐0. Passed HJC 9-‐3. Passed House 51-‐10. Smith Yes. Passed SPAC 8-‐0. Passed SJC 10-‐0 Passed Senate 33-‐0. Sapien Yes. Bill seals internal statement in government probes. Sent to Governor Bill Vetoed by Governor
HB 257 ELECTION CONTRIBUTIONS BY CERTAIN CONTRACTORS Passed HGEIC 9-‐0. Sent to HBEC. DOA (API)
HB 27 EMPLOYMENT OF FORMER PRC EMPLOYEES Passed GEIC 11-‐0 Passed HJC 13-‐0. Passed House 44-‐19. Smith Yes. Passed SRC 6-‐2 Sent to SJC. DOA (API)
HB 115 STATE ETHICS COMMISSION ACT BRIAN EGOFF Passed HGEIC 11-‐0 on 2/25.
Smith Yes. Sent to HJC on 3/12. DOA (API) Forty-‐two states have managed to create Ethics Commissions, yet for years, our elected officials have failed to find a way to create oversight of ethical behavior related to the conduct of state business in New Mexico.
HB 155 LOBBYIST EMPLOYER REGISTRATION Passed HRPAC 6-‐0 on 2/13. Passed HJC 13-‐0 on 3/2. Passed House 63-‐0 on 3/7. Smith Yes. Passed SRC 7-‐0 on 3/18. Passed Senate 32-‐4 on 3/19. Sapien Yes. This bill was watered down to exclude some of the information sought but makes lobbyist information more timely and searchable on the SOS’s web site. Signed by Governor
HB 378 REQUIRE ORAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT MEETINGS. JAMES SMITH/IVEY-‐SOTO. Passed HGEIC 8-‐0 on 2-‐27. Passed HJC 7-‐0 on 3/13. Passed House 60-‐0 on 3/21. Smith Yes. Sent to SPAC. DOA (API)
SB 512 NO LOBBYING FOR FORMER PUBLIC OFFICIALS. Introduced and sent to SRC where it stayed without a hearing. DOA (API)
SB 567 SWAT DEPLOYMENT ANNUAL REPORTING Passed SPAC 5-‐1 on 3/3. Sent to SJC. DOA. (API) Bill would have increased transparency for SWAT Teams in NM.
ETHICS: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: Require more lobbyist information to be posted and readily retrievable from SOS website Defeated: Failed to Pass: Require two-‐year cooling off period before ex-‐legislator can lobby, Create a State Ethics Commission, Require public body to allow public comment at meetings, Election contributions by certain contractors, Employment of former PRC employees, Swat deployment annual reporting. Transparency issues largely ignored. 6
! GUN BILLS HB 106 CONCEALED CARRY FINGERPRINTS AND REFRESHERS Passed HRPAC 4-‐3 Passed HJC 9-‐4 Passed House 48-‐19. Smith Yes. Sent to SPAC. DOA (API)
HB 189 CONCEALED CARRY LICENSE LENGTH & REFRESHERS. Passed HSCAC 5-‐3 Passed HJC 7-‐5 Passed House 39-‐26. Smith Yes. Sent to SPAC and passed with recommendations 8-‐0 Sent to SJC. DOA (API)
HB 397 CONCEALED GUN FINGERPRINT REQUIREMENT. Passed in HSCAC 6-‐3 Passed HJC 10-‐3 Passed House 63-‐5. Smith Yes. Sent to SJC. DOA (API) These bills and the comparable Senate bills were intended to weaken the strong state-‐wide concealed carry permit laws NM has in place by lengthening the duration of licenses from 4 to 5 years and removing the requirement for a two-‐hour refresher course after the issuance of an original or renewed license.
HB 44 FIREARM TRANSFER ACT MIGUEL GARCIA Sent to the HRPAC. Rather than take a vote on the bill, the legislators voted 4-‐3 to “table” it. This means the bill did not pass or fail but will be tabled until a future date when it may be passed into law. DOA (API)
HB 544 NEGLIGENT STORAGE OF FIREARMS. STEPHANIE MAEZ. SENT TO HJC. This bill was not tabled, but will be amended and presented at an interim committee in November. This will be called a Child Access Prevention Law (CAP) in NM.
HR 4 PROHIBIT FIREARMS IN THE HOUSE BRIAN EGOFF Sent to the House Rules and Order of Business Committee. DOA (API) SR 1 PROHIBIT FIREARMS IN THE SENATE. PETER WIRTH. Sent to SRC . DOA (API) SM 43 CONCERN ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE & GUN VIOLENCE DAY SEN. NANCY RODRIGUEZ. Introduced on 2/2. Passed Senate 43-‐0 on 2/24. Signed by Governor. SB 118/a CONCEALED CARRY FINGERPRINTS & REFRESHERS Passed SPAC 5-‐0 Sent to SJC. DOA (API) SB 268/a CONCEALED CARRY LICENSES & CHANGES. Passed SPAC 6-‐0. Sent to SJC. DOA (API)
GUNS: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS Passed: SM Concern about young people & gun violence. Signed by Governor Defeated this from passing: Concealed carry license length & refreshers, Failed to pass: Firearm transfer act, Negligent storage of firearms, Prohibit firearms in House and Senate
“New Mexicans for Gun Safety” concluded that it was a “great legislative effort” to make our state safer from gun violence due to Senate halting weakening of laws.
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! HEALTH BILLS
SB 152 HEALTH SECURITY ACT. SEN.HOWIE MORALES. Passed SPAC 5-‐3
Sent to SJC. DOA (API) The makeup of this committee is 6 Democrats and 4 Republicans. Sen. Cervantes, a Democrat from Las Cruces, voted with the Republicans, creating a tied vote. A tie vote means the bill remains in committee.
SB 323/a/SB 474/a SAFE DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN HEALTH INFORMATION. Passed SPAC 5-‐3. Passed substitute bills in SJC 8-‐0. Passed Senate 26-‐0. Sapien Yes Passed HHC 8-‐0. Passed House 52-‐0. Smith Yes. Signed by Governor.
HEALTH: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS Passed: Have hospitals’ cost, quality information posted on a public website Defeated this from passsing: Failed to pass: Health Securities Act issues
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! INTEREST RATES ON LOANS
HB 24 LOAN INTEREST RATE CAPS. PATRICIA ROYBAL CABALLERO. Tabled in HRPAC. Smith DOA (API)
HB 36 LOAN INTEREST RATE CAPS. GAIL CHASEY. Tabled in HRPAC. Smith DOA (API)
HB 356/a LICENSE TAX REFUND LOAN PROVIDERS. JANE POWDRELL-‐CULBERT. Passed HRPAC as amended 5-‐2. Smith Yes. Passed HBEC 6-‐1. Passed House 38-‐25 Smith Yes. SJC DOA (API) This bill allows for 1270 % rates on tax refund appreciation loans.
During the House floor debate, Rep. Deborah Armstrong introduced the Economic Security Amendment that would have capped high risk small loans at 36%. Every House Republican present voted against the Amendment.
SB 72 LOAN INTEREST RATE CAP. SEN. WILLIAM SOULES. Heard in SCTC on 2/24. Tabled. DOA (API) Not acted upon because it was ruled “not germane.” Germane = bills that fall within the purview of a 30-‐day session.
CAP INTEREST LOANS: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: None Defeated this from passing: None Failed to pass: Cap loan interest rates at 36%
The Albuquerque Journal ran an Editorial on 2/27stating “House panel needs to call loan, cap interest rates.” Republicans voted against or to table every bill to cap loan interest rates, showing total conservative resistance to capping predatory lending rates.
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! MINIMUM WAGE BILLS HB 20 RAISE MINIMUM WAGE. REP.“LUCKY” LUCIANO. Introduced in HRPAC on 2/23 where it stayed. DOA (API) HB 138 INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE. REP. MIGUEL GARCIA. Tabled in HRPAC on 2/24. Smith Yes DOA (API) HB 360 INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE & ANNUAL INCREASES. PATRICIA ROYBAL CABALLERO. To HRPAC on 2/23. DOA (API)
HB 498 STATE PREEMPTION OF WAGE & LEAVE LAWS. NATE GENTRY. Assigned HRPAC. DOA. (API) This bill would have removed local authority to enact a minimum wage that is higher than the state minimum wage.
SB 10 RAISE MINIMUM WAGE. CLEMENTE SANCHEZ. Assigned SPAC. DOA (API) SB 350 INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE & INDEX TO INFLATION. PETE CAMPOS. Assigned SPAC. DOA (API) SB 432 INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE % ANNUAL INCREASES. WILLIAM SOULES. Assigned SPAC. DOA (API) MINIMUM WAGE: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: None Defeated this from passing: State preemption of wage and leave laws Failed to pass: All efforts to raise minimum wage.
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RIGHT TO WORK (FOR LESS) BILLS HB 75 EMPLOYEE PREFERENCE ACT. DENNIS ROCH. Passed HBEC 8-‐5. Passed HJC 7-‐6, with substitutions raising minimum wage from $7.50 to $8, Nate Gentry added amendment on the House floor. Passed House 37-‐30. Smith Yes. Sent to SPAC. Tabled. DOA (API)
The average worker, union or non-‐union, makes $5000 less in states that have passed this law.
SB 183 EMPLOYEE PREFERENCE ACT. WILLIAM SHARER. Failed in SPAC 5-‐3 on a party line vote. Tabled. DOA (API) RIGHT TO WORK: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: None Defeated this from passing: Democrats blocked this House-‐passed measure by tabling both bills in the SPAC
Failed to pass:
! MISCELLANEOUS BILLS
HB 55/80 PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT WAGE CALCULATIONS. REP NORA ESPINOZA Passed HBEC 7-‐4. Passed HTPWC 4-‐3. Passed House 31-‐28. Smith Absent. Sent to SJC. DOA. (API) This bill would shift the determination of prevailing wage and fringe benefit rates from collective bargaining agreements to a continuing survey program. HB 626 PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFRTY, & WELFARE PRC TELECOM JURISDICTION. REP JAMES SMITH Passed HRPAC 5-‐2. Passed HSCAC 6-‐2. Passed House 44-‐12. Excused 11. Absent 3. Smith Yes Sent to SJC. DOA. (API) This bill would reduce the PRC authority over the telecommunications carriers.
HB 560 FORFEITURE PROCEDURES & REPORTING REP. ZACHARY COOK Passed HSCAC 9-‐0. Passed HJC 7-‐0. Passed House 56-‐0. Smith Excused. Passed Senate 37-‐0. Sapien Yes Signed by Governor Chaptered. This bill will essentially stop the emerging practice of “policing for profit” and has already received national attention.
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! MARAJUANA BILLS HB 160 CANNABIS REVENUE & FREEDOM ACT Tabled 7-‐1 in the HAWC. DOA (API) HB 466 MEDICAL CANNABIS RESEARCH, BOARD & FUND Passed HRPAC 4-‐2. Smith No. Passed HHC 6-‐4. Sent to HAFC. DOA (API) HB 527/a MEDICAL CANNABIS EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECKS. Passed HJC 6-‐5 as amended. Passed HBEC 9-‐4. Passed House 34-‐24. Smith yes. Sent to SJC. DOA (API) SB 383 DECREASE MARIJUANA POSSESSION PENALTIES. JOSEPH CERVANTES. Passed SPAC 4-‐2. Passed SJC with substitutes 7-‐3. Passed Senate 21-‐20. Sapien Yes. Sent to HJC. DOA (API) SJR 2 USE, REGULATION, SALE & TAX OF MARIJUANA, CA. JERRY ORTIZ Y PINO. Passed SRC 5-‐4. Sent to SJC. DOA (API)
MARIJUANA: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: None Defeated this from passing: None Failed to pass: Legalize and regulate marijuana
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! TAX BILLS HB 239 REPEAL CAPITAL GAINS FROM NET INCOME Assigned to HWMC 2/23. DOA HB 279 REDUCE CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATE Assigned to HWMC 2/23. DOA HB 293 INCREASE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT Assigned to HWMC 2/23. DOA HB 113 ENERGY-‐EFFICIENT HOMES TAX CREDIT Passed HEENRC 11-‐0. In HWMC. DOA HB 110 NEW TAX BRACKET & INCOME TAX RATES Assigned to HRPAC. DOA HB 495 CORPORATE TAX FOR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS Assigned to HBEC. DOA HB 70 EXTEND SOLAR MARKET DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT Passed EENRC 6-‐5. Sent to HWMC. DOA HB 296/a SOLAR ENERGY INSTALLATION LEASE TAX CREDIT Passed EENRC 10-‐1. Passed HWMC 10-‐1. Amended on House floor. Passed House 63-‐0. Smith Yes. Passed SCONC 7-‐0. Passed SCORC 7-‐0. Passed Senate 35-‐6. Sapien yes. Sent to Governor. Governor Vetoed SB 56 UNITARY CORPORATION COMBINED TAX REPORTING. PETER WIRTH Assigned SCORC. DOA. SB 261 INCREASE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT. JACOB CANDELARIA. Passed SPAC 5-‐1. Sent to SFC. DOA SB 274 HOLD HARMLESS & FOOD DEDUCTION CHANGES. JOHN ARTHUR SMITH. Passed SCORC 8-‐0 in a vote taken without a public hearing. Sapien Excused. Sent to SFC. DOA SB 281 INCOME FOR TAX PURPOSES ACT CHANGES. PETER WIRTH. Passed SCORC 7-‐1. Sapien excused. Passed SFC 7-‐0. Passed Senate 36-‐1. Sapien Yes. Sent to HBEC. DOA SB 391/a EXTEND SOLAR MARKET DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT. MIMI STEWART. Passed SCONC 9-‐1. Passed SCORC 7-‐2. Sapien Excused. Passed Senate 37-‐5
Sapien Yes. Passed HWMC 7-‐6. Passed House 39-‐24. Smith Yes. Governor Pocket Veto
SB 623 PHASE IN HIGHER INCOME SUPPLEMENTAL TAX. MIMI STEWART. Passed SCORC 5-‐4. Sent to SFC. DOA.
TAX BILLS: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: Solar energy installation tax credit. Sent to Governor-‐-‐Vetoed Defeated this from passing: Repeal capital gains taxes reduce corporate income tax rate, Failed to pass: Many—see above 13
! ENVIRONMENT/REMOVING LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILLS
HB 199 OIL AND GAS OPERATION JURISDICTION. REP. PAUL BANDY Assigned to HEENC where it stayed. DOA.
HB 366/a OIL AND GAS STATE PREEMPTION. REP NATE GENTRY. Passed HEENC 6-‐5. Passed HJC 7-‐5. Passed House 37-‐28. Smith Yes. Sent to SCC. DOA!!!
These two bills would eliminate the rights of local jurisdictions to control operations related to oil and gas production that they feel are destructive to their communities, giving political appointees at Oil Conservation Division total power to remove county and municipal rules addressing oil and gas. There were 5 bills introduced this session with this goal. A big display of opposition to the Senate bills in the SCC ended the push for this session.
HB 291 NM FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT STUDY COMMISSION REP. YVETTE HERRELL. Passed HAWC 9-‐1. Failed 8-‐4 in HJC. This bill would have created a commission to study whether it is feasible to force the federal government to give public lands to the state. This issue has been studied before. Forced land transfers are unconstitutional since public lands belong to all Americans.
HB 299 PUBLIC-‐PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ACT. REP. LARRY LARRANAGA. Passed HTPWC 6-‐4. Passed HJC 7-‐5. Passed House 38-‐27. Smith Yes. Sent to SJC. Tabled!!
In the water sector, a public-‐private partnership is a type of arrangement where a local government contracts with a private entity to run all or part of a government-‐owned drinking water or wastewater system. Communities with aging infrastructure often think that the private sector can deliver financing or better services. But these kinds of public-‐private partnerships restrict transparency and keep the public out of the loop. Full proposals would NOT be subject to the state’s open records laws until after the deal is signed, so the public would not be able to review a proposal and voice their opinion.
HB 365 PROTECTION FROM EMINENT DOMAIN REP. M. MCQUEEN Assigned to HGEIC. Held in this committee by James Smith. DOA. This bill relates to real property, providing protection to real property owners against eminent domain.
HB 296 SOLAR ENERGY INSTALLATION LEASE TAX CREDIT. SARAH MAESTAS BARNES. Passed HEENC 10-‐1. Passed HWMC 10-‐1. Passed House 63-‐0. Smith Yes Passed SCONC 7-‐0. Passed SCORC 7-‐0. Passed Senate 35-‐6. Sapien Yes
Governor vetoed. HB 445 REDUCE RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS. REP LARRY SCOTT. Passed HEENC 5-‐4 with substitutions. Passed HRPAC 4-‐3. Passed House 33-‐32. Smith Yes Sent to SCC. DOA. This bill passed the House by 1 vote. Four Democrats were excused from the House vote: N. Salazar, T. Salazar, L.Varela, and J.R. Madalena. This bill would freeze renewable energy development by removing the requirement that utilities generate 20 % of electricity by renewable energy by 2020, moving NM backwards in the renewable energy sector. 14
! ENVIRONMENT/REMOVING LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILLS (Cont)
HB 64 HOME ENERGY & WATER EFFICIENCY TAX CREDIT REP. CARL TRUJILLO. Passed EEENC 11-‐0. Sent to HWMC. DOA.
HB 564/a RIGHT TO FARM & OPERATIONS AS NUISANCE. REP. BOB WOOLEY.
Passed HAWC 6-‐0. Passed HJC 6-‐5 with recommendations. Passed House 35-‐29. J. Smith Excused Passed SCC 6-‐2. Sent to SJC. Tabled. This bill would have weakened the current law protecting the public from pollution caused by Big Ag such as dairy farms. The Senate stopped this anti-‐nuisance bill that would have exempted the dairy industry from being sued by neighbors suffering from issues like smells, noise and flies and pollution of streams.
HB 188 SAND & GRAVEL MINING VIOLATION PENALTIES. JAMES SMITH/JOHN SAPIEN Passed SUBSTITUTE HRPAC 3-‐2. J. Smith Yes. Sent to HEENC. DOA (API)
HB 235 USE OF PUBLIC WATER & LANDOWNER PROTECTION Passed HAWC 9-‐0. Passed HJC 7-‐6 with substitutes. Passed House 34-‐28. Smith Excused. Passed SCONC 8-‐0. Passed SJC 7-‐1. DOA (API) Would give the SGC new authorities and power to determine whether a body o water within the state is “navigable.”
HB 190 SAND, GRAVEL & QUARRIES IN MINING ACT JAMES SMITH/ JOHN SAPIEN Assigned to HRPAC. DOA. (API)
HB 87 WATER QUALITY CONTROL COMMISSION MEETINGS Passed HAWC 9-‐0. Passed HRPAC 7-‐0. Passed House 43-‐21. Smith Yes Bill gives full control to the Water Quality Control Commission to set locations for public meetings.
SB 391 EXTEND SOLAR MARKET DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT MIMI STEWART. Passed SCONC 9-‐1. Passed SCORC 7-‐2. Passed Senate 37-‐5. Sapien Yes Passed HWMC 7-‐6. Passed House 39-‐24. Smith Yes. Governor Pocket Veto
SB 677 RIGHT OF ACTION CISCO McSORLEY Assigned to SCONC. DOA (API)
This bill would have established that, for environmental protection from oil and gas activities, a private person may file suit against the state or other persons if the private person has been damaged by actions in “violation of the Oil and Gas Act.”
SB 483 NM FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT STUDY COMMISSION. SEN. WILLIAM SHARER. Passed SRC 5-‐3. Sent to SCC. Tabled. DOA (API) Sister bill to HB 291.
SB 421 LIMIT LOCAL GOV’T & ZONING COMMSSIONS. SEN. STUART INGLE. Assigned to SCONC. DOA (API)
SB 184 NO STB PROJECTS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. SEN. WILLIAM SHARER. Assigned to SCONC. DOA. (API) This bill relates to severance tax bonds, allowing none of these bonds to benefit projects located in counties or municipalities that have ordinances that would result in certain increases in costs to the extractive industries.
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SB 601 OIL CONSERVATION RULES APPLY TO ALL COUNTIES.SEN. RON GRIGGS Assigned to SCONC. DOA (API) SB 421, 184 and 601 are written to take away all local government input regarding oil and gas extraction.
ENVIRONMENT/REMOVING LOCAL GOV’T: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: Solar energy installation lease tax credit. Vetoed by Governor, Extend solar market development tax credit. Vetoed by Governor Defeated this from passing: Oil and gas operation, Oil and gas state preemption, NM federal land management study commission, Public-‐private partnership, reduce renewable portfolio standards, Right to farm and operations as nuisance, use of public water and landowner protection, Water quality control commission meetings, Limit local government & zoning commissions, no STB projects in certain counties, Oil conservation rules apply to all counties. Failed to pass: Protection from eminent domain, Electric vehicle income tax credit, home energy & water efficiency tax credit, Sand & gravel mining violation penalties, Sand, gravel & quarries in mining, Private right of action,
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! EDUCATION HB 15 LIMIT SCHOOL DAYS FOR STATEWIDE TESTS REP. BILL MCCAMLEY Assigned to HEC/HGEIC. DOA. (API)
HB 76 TEACHER LICENSURE LEVELS & ADVANCEMENT Passed HEC with amendments/substitutions Passed House 37-‐0. Absent 29 This bill allows merit based pay for teachers based on test scores, and does not properly account for special ed or English learning students. SEC DOA (API)
HB 144 TEACHER & SCHOOL LEADER EFFECTIVENESS ACT REP. JAMES SMITH
Passed HEC 7-‐5. HEC passed substitute for Bill 144. Passed House 42-‐26. Sent to SEC. DOA. (API) HB 333 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP & TAX CREDITS Passed HEC 7-‐5. Passed HWMC 8-‐4. Passed House 38-‐25. Smith Yes. Sent to SEC. DOA (API) This bill would subsidize private schools on the taxpayer’s dime, aka voucher. HB 345 GOV’T LITERACY AS ELECTIVE & DUAL CREDIT REP. GARCIA RICHARD Passed HGEIC 8-‐0. Smith Yes. Passed HEC 12-‐0. Passed House 62-‐1. Passed SEC 7-‐0. Sapien Yes. On Senate Calendar. DOA. (API)
HB 41 SCHOOL GRADE PROMOTION & RETENTION REP. MONICA YOUNGBLOOD.
Passed HEC 7-‐6. Passed House 38-‐30. Smith Yes. Sent to SPAC. Tabled. DOA
SB 66 SCHOOL GRADE PROMOTION & RETENTION SEN. GAY KERNAN Assigned to SPAC. Tabled. DOA. (API)
SB 355 PURCHASE OF LOTTERY TICKETS WITH CARD. SEN. JOHN ARTHUR SMITH. Passed SCORC Substitute 8-‐1 on 2/24. Passed SFC 7-‐2 on 2/26. Passed Senate 25-‐16 on 3 March. Sapien Yes. Passed HRPAC 5-‐2. Sent to HWMC. DOA. This bill makes it easier to buy lottery tickets and changes the way lottery revenues are distributed to the scholarship program for NM students. Seven lobbyists representing lottery vendors asked to repeal the 30% minimum to account for their contracts coming up for renewal, shifting dollars from NM students to out of state vendors.
SB 393 SAFE SCHOOLS FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT.SEN. WILLIAM SOULES. Passed
SEC 5-‐4. Sapien Yes. Sent to SJC. Tabled. DOA (API) SB 381 CARLOS VIGIL MEMORIAL ACT & BULLYING. SEN. JACOB CANDELARIA.
Passed SRC 7-‐0. Passed SFC 9-‐0. Passed Senate 32-‐0. Sapien Yes. Passed HJC 11-‐0. Passed HAFC 15-‐0. Passed House 51-‐0. Smith Yes. Governor Signed. This bill creates a fund for bullying prevention programs and projects throughout NM and makes grants available for bullying prevention.
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EDUCATION: CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS Passed: Create a state board and fund named after Carlos Vigil to help eradicate bullying Defeated: Hold back third graders, Repeal of the 30% minimum lottery revenues Failed to pass: Limit standardized testing, Safe schools for all students, Gov’t literacy as elective and dual credit, reducing role of test scores in teacher evaluations
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! VOTER BILLS/ELECTIONS
HB 150 VOTER REGISTRATION & EARLY VOTING SITES. REP. JEFF STEINBORN. Assigned to HGEIC. Tabled in HGEIC on 3/10. Smith DOA (API)
HB 252 POST-‐SECONDARY SCHOOL VOTER REGISTRATION. REP. JEFF STEINBORN Passed HGEIC 8-‐0. Smith Yes Sent to HEC. DOA. (API)
HB 151 PRIMARY VOTING FOR SOME 17 YEAR OLDS. JEFF STEINBORN. Passed HGEIC 11-‐0. Smith Yes. Passed HJC 11-‐2. Passed House 47-‐19. Smith No. Passed SRC 6-‐0. Passed SJC 8-‐0. To Senate Calendar. DOA. (API)
HB 317 ALTERNATE VOTING LOCATIONS. REP. KEN MARTINEZ. Passed HGEIC 11-‐0. Smith Yes. Passed HJC 11-‐0. Passed House 52-‐4. Smith Yes. Sent to SRC. DOA.
HB 405 SAME-‐DAY VOTER REGISTRATION. REP. BILL McCAMLEY/JACOB CANDELARIA. HGEIC J. SMITH. DOA.
HB 61 VOTING VERIFICATION PROCEDURES. JAMES SMITH/DANIEL IVEY-‐SOTO. Passed HGEIC with some amendments on a party-‐line vote with Republicans in favor, 6-‐5 on2/21. Smith Yes. Sent to HJC. DOA. This bill was crafted with bipartisan support of state county clerks and has been considered the “Best of the Worst.”
HB 62 VOTER REGISTRATION INFO VERIFICATION. JAMES SMITH/DANIEL IVEY-‐SOTO. Passed HGEIC 9-‐0. on 2/17. Smith Yes. Passed HJC 11-‐0 on 2/27. Passed House. 65-‐0. on 3/3. Smith Yes. Passed SRC 7-‐0 on 3/14. Sent to SJC. DOA. (API)
HB 340 CHANGE CERTAIN VOTER (PHOTO) ID REQUIREMENTS. CATHRYNN BROWN. Assigned to HGEIC. HGEIC tabled this bill 8-‐3 on 2/21. Smith and 2 other R’s voted to table the bill. Then, on March 9th, Chairman James Smith, HGEIC, called this bill, not on the agenda, up from the table and passed it quickly after several Democratic representatives were out of the room managing other bills. Passed HGEIC 6-‐3. Forcing through an extreme mandatory photo voter ID bill without giving the public notice or chance to comment defies every transparency and good government agenda Smith has championed in the past.
Alex CurtasAlex Curtas , ProgressNow NM’s Communications Director and point person for voting rights issues, had this to say about Rep. Smith’s movida: “Rep. Smith has been a dynamic advocate for open government for many years. He showed a true bi-partisan spirit in his willingness to craft a mandatory photo voter ID bill with Sen. Ivey-Soto this year that tries its best to limit the inevitable voting barriers such laws create. However, any goodwill Rep. Smith created with such a compromise has now been dashed. Even though Rep. Smith voted against Rep. Brown’s restrictive bill a few weeks ago, his devious move today to surrender to Secretary Duran’s pressure and quickly pass it while Democratic committee 17 members were absent is a shameful affront to the committee process (and to his previous actions). Rep. Smith should apologize to the public for excluding them from the democratic process and explain to us why he flip-flopped his own vote. 19
Further, he should explain to his Democratic colleagues why he chose to exclude them from this important voting rights debate.”
This bill, with substitutions, then passed HJC 7-‐6 on 3/13. Passed House 37-‐29 on 3/17. Smith Yes. Sent to SRC. DOA. (API)
HB 249 16 YEAR-‐OLDS VOTING IN SCHOOL ELECTIONS. REP. JAVIER MARTINEZ. Passed HGEIC 7-‐2. Smith Yes. Sent to HJC. DOA. (API)
SB 13 VOTER REGISTRATION & INSURANCE EXCHANGE. SEN. JACOB CANDELARIA. Passed SRC 4-‐3. Passed SJC 9-‐0. On Senate Calendar. DOA. (API)
SB 195 UNIFORM MILITARY & OVERSEAS VOTERS ACT. SEN. DANIEL IVEY-‐SOTO. Passed SRC 9-‐0. Passed SJC with recommendations 7-‐0. Passed Senate 40-‐0. Sapien Yes Passed HGEIC with recommendations 9-‐0. Smith Yes. Referred to HJC. DOA (API)
SB 523 TAX & REV. VOTER INFO CHANGES TO SEC OF STATE. SEN. MIMI STEWART. Passed SRC 8-‐2. Sent to SJC. DOA. (API)
SB 650 ALLOW OPEN PRIMARY ELECTIONS. SEN. BILL O’NEILL/SEN STEPH. GARCIA RICHARD Assigned to SRC. DOA. (API)
SM 11 STUDY BIOMETRIC VOTER IDENTIFICATION. SEN WILLIAM PAYNE. Passed SRC with recommendation 6-‐2. Passed SJC 6-‐3. Passed Senate 26-‐13. Sapien No. DOA.
SB 643 VOTER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS SEN LISA TORRACO. Passed SJC Substitute 9-‐0. Passed Senate with Floor Amendment 34-‐0. Sapien Yes. Passed HJC 9-‐0. Passed House 64-‐0. Smith Yes. Governor Signed
SB 617/a ELECTION CODE CHANGES. SEN. DANIEL IVEY-‐SOTO. Passed SRC 6-‐0. Passed SJC with recommendations 8-‐0. Passed Senate 37-‐0 Sapien Yes. Sent to HGEIC. DOA.
SB 643 VOTER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS SEN LISA TORRACO. Passed SJC with substitutions 9-‐0. Passed Senate with Floor Amendment 34-‐0. Sapien Yes. Passed HJC 9-‐0. Passed House 64-‐0. Smith Yes. Governor Signed SB 643 is the Online Voter Registration Bill. As an appendage to this bill, the content of the following bills are hitching a ride: SB 195, SB 617, and HB 62. With the passage of SB 643, we have now gained full online voter registration and passed the ERIC bill, can clean up the election code and encode laws providing for military and overseas voters. NO VOTER ID WAS ATTACHED!!!
VOTER BILLS/ ELECTIONS CONCLUSION/HIGHLIGHTS
Passed: Require SOS to allow online voter registration Defeated this from passing: Require Voter ID
Failed to Pass: Eliminate caps on campaign contributions, Allow some 17 year olds to vote in primaries, Increase voting convenience centers, Allow same day voting registration, Allow open primary elections; Require broader disclosure/ independent expenditures in campaigns 20
! OVERVIEW AND COMMENTS OF THE LEGISLATURE 2015
" Legislature’s 2015 output is lowest in 66 years. Only 191 of 1,365 bills went to the governor. March 17 article in the Albuquerque Journal. This is not all bad news, as many bills passed by the House and deplored by Progressives were killed in Senate Committees, such as Right to Work (for less), Oil and Gas Preemption, and Third Grade School Retention, and you will find others of your concern.
" Of course, many of the bills we have worked for are being blocked in the House, including meaningful tax reform, funding for childhood education, and transparency bills.
" Another headline: “Bills in limbo as bickering continues. Republicans, Democrats accuse each other of blocking legislation.” March 13. ABQ Journal.
" “What is happening in Santa Fe is only important in the context of what is not happening. Legislative sessions have been reduced to annual squabbles with no significant attacks on the systematic poverty, loss of government jobs or education and social problems that keep the state at the bottom of the national rankings and that have forced people to flee to other states. The Legislature has become a bauble for journalists, lobbyists, contract seekers and political jesters.” I cannot attribute this quote to the proper source at this time. I will find it ASAP.
" The Governor vetoed 33 of the 191 bills approved by lawmakers during the 60 day session.
MESSAGING LEGISLATURE - LATEST REPUBLICAN
" For all the positive and extremely hard work that has gone on in front and behind the scenes, hour after hour, day after day, these last two months, let us remember so many people and organizations that we are indebted to including but not only the following:
o Equality New Mexico o Food & Water Watch o Think New Mexico o League of Women Voters o Common Cause o Progress Now New Mexico o Conservation Voters New Mexico o NM Foundation for Open Government (NMFOG) o New Mexicans for Gun Safety o Many Animal Protection Groups
