LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP: Senate and House Send Bills to Fourth Floor; Gov. Expected to Sign on Friday

LAST DAY’S WRAP UP

IN THE SENATE

This morning, at 9 a.m., the Senate conducted its last piece of business for this Special Session.

House Bill 2 passed both out of committee (7-1), and off the Senate Floor (34-3), sending the bill to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for her signature.

The bill is described as the health care coverage bill, which is needed to ensure middle-income state residents don’t face big insurance-cost increases at the end of this year.

The Chamber supported this bill during the session because we believe it is in everyone’s interest to have as many people covered by health insurance as possible. The bill enjoyed bipartisan support as it moved through committees and floor debates.

Sen. Nicole Tobiassen (R-Bernalillo) speaks on the Senate Floor on Thursday.

AND THEN … SENATE LEFT THE BUILDING WITH A QUICK SINE DIE

The Senate moved bills to the Senate Floor in hours.

In fact, the Senate deliberated a total of 25 hours for the entire session. It just goes to show how fast this body can work, and work well, to do the people’s work.

MEANWHILE … IN THE HOUSE

The House had three significant bills to debate on the floor:

• SENATE BILL1 — Rural Healthcare Delivery Funds for High-Needs Health Areas (64-3).
• SENATE BILL 2 — Metro Court Defendant Competency Determination (65-3).
• SENATE BILL 3 — Vaccination Requirements for Schoolchildren and Adults (43-26).

Republican lawmakers, especially in the House, objected that they had been largely left out of all pre-session negotiations. Consequently, many debates ran the full three hours allowed per bill.

Additionally, at the beginning of the floor session during announcements and miscellaneous business — typically a brief portion of the session — minority members voiced their concerns about being excluded from negotiations on a variety of issues. This segment alone ran an hour and a half!

At the end of today’s session, all three bills passed the House and are now on their way to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for her signature.

The General Appropriations Bill – House Bill 1

The general appropriations bill passed on the first day of the session and was sent to the governor in lightning fashion. It includes $144 million in new spending earmarked for food banks, SNAP funding, public radio and television programs, and a state rural health care delivery fund.

SESSION OVERVIEW

At the 30,000 Foot Level

This special session unfolded exactly as anticipated. Leadership focused exclusively on issues where the Democrats and the governor could find common ground — a narrow agenda shaped largely as a response to recent federal government actions.

The Wins

Two significant bills passed with the Chamber’s support and with strong bipartisan support and deserve recognition:

> Health Insurance Exchange Protection (64-3): Ensures New Mexicans won’t lose access to their health care coverage during this uncertain time.

> Rural Hospital Grants (64-4): Provides critical financial support to rural hospitals struggling through these challenges.

These overwhelming votes demonstrate that when legislators focus on protecting New Mexicans’ health and well-being, collaboration is possible.

What This Means Going Forward

However, the session’s narrow scope left significant voices out of the conversation.

Minority party members say they were excluded from pre-session negotiations to such an extent that they felt compelled to file their own bills independently.

More importantly, many residents likely felt left out, too. The issues dominating kitchen table conversations and business lunchrooms — crime, public safety, access to doctors and homelessness, went unaddressed.

For New Mexicans living with these challenges daily, this session may have felt like a missed opportunity.

Reason For Optimism

Still, the Chamber remains optimistic. The Legislature must ultimately represent all New Mexicans and address the full scope of challenges facing communities.

Sen. Peter Wirth, (D-Santa Fe), has committed to tackling the medical compacts during the regular session beginning in January.

We believe the momentum is building for meaningful action on other critical issues as well, particularly juvenile justice reform, and broader public safety measures.

The work continues, and we’ll be watching closely.

CORRECTION

We apologize for the error.

SIGNING OFF FROM SANTA FE

Five bills were introduced for consideration and debate at a cost of $240,000.

We have enjoyed bringing you all the news and views of interest to the business community.

As always, it is our privilege and honor to represent you before your state Legislature.

Until next session (just three-plus months away!), we wish you prosperity, happiness and good health.