HUGE OIL TAX INCREASE TEMPORARILY
TABLED AS IT AWAITS TAX PACKAGE
This morning, the House Taxation and Revenue Committee, without objection, temporarily tabled House Bill 548, sponsored by Reps. Nathan Small (D-Doña Ana) and Meredith Dixon (D-Bernalillo). What this means in practical terms is that some form of HB 548 will be rolled into the overall tax package. Small alluded a few times to perhaps a midpoint wherein the gas tax rate would come down a little and the oil tax rate will increase a little. Well, that depends on what “a little” means. One thing is for sure – the oil tax rate will go up a lot more than the gas rate will come down in order to generate more spending money for the Legislature.
For now, however, this late-introduced bill (it was introduced right at the bill introduction deadline) seeks to impose a 27% tax increase on every barrel of oil produced on state lands, which would raise nearly a half a billion dollars in new state revenues. The new revenues would go to the general fund for more spending on state programs and projects, as if OVER THREE BILLION DOLLARS in new state revenue this year weren’t enough. As you can tell, we’re not really keen on this idea.
Tons of Opposition
Terri Cole, president and CEO of the Chamber, stated our opposition to the bill:
“We have just one simple question: Why? Next fiscal year’s general fund revenue is estimated at $13.6 billion – nearly three billion higher than the HB 2 budget of $10.8 billion, which contains a 6% spending increase. This is more than enough money – no one in the state should receive a tax increase. No one.
“What we learned from history is that the gas rate was hiked temporarily because of a gigantic federal tax credit that disappeared over 20 years ago. If we want to equalize the rates, we should lower the gas rate. It’s too high. This would be a great benefit to production in the San Juan basin – an area especially hard hit by the closure of a power plant and a coal mine. Raising taxes, even though hidden, ultimately flows down to consumers – consumers already reeling from inflation’s sticker shock. Please vote ‘no’. “
Joining in opposition are the New Mexico Business Coalition, the Rio Grande Foundation, Manzano Company (small oil producer from Roswell), Economic Development Commission of Lea County, the Independent Petroleum Producers Association, the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, New Mexico Idea (economic developer association), the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA).
Punishment to an ‘Out-of-Favor Industry’
That’s how the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association continues to characterize HB 548. For this reference, later in committee discussion, Speaker Javier Martinez (D-Bernalillo), a committee member, chastised NMOGA. In a veiled threat, the speaker said that oil and gas isn’t an out-of-favor industry because if they were, they wouldn’t be here. He did go on to say that we are blessed to have what we have in the state. NMOGA made it absolutely clear this would change oil field economics (and not in a good way), making it less attractive for investment and decreasing production and jobs. In fact, marginal production would likely shut down, lowering state revenues. This viewpoint was widely shared by all those in opposition. The only organized support for the bill came from the Sierra Club.
Keep Hitting the Piñata, but at Some Point, There’s No More Candy
That was Rep. Jon Henry’s (R-Eddy, Chaves and Otero) analogy for what’s happening to the oil industry in New Mexico. Whether this bill is the straw that breaks the camel’s back or it’s the next tax or level of regulation, at some point, there’s no more candy. As a local government official for many years, he’s seen the booms and busts and knows how devastating to a community it is to have a downturn in oil production. Small continues to assert, however, that New Mexico’s oil is so valuable and that production has increased so much, he’s doubtful this tax increase will affect production at all.
Why?
Both Reps. Rod Montoya (R-San Juan) and Mark Duncan (R-San Juan) repeatedly asked why? Raising taxes has to be for a purpose. Small said that there is great concern of potential federal budget cuts, which he says could hit the New Mexico budget for $1 billion. He also talked about the need to improve “affordability” for New Mexicans for things such as health care. Montoya pointed out that we should not be raising taxes for a possibility. If the federal cuts are made, the governor has already said she’ll call a special session to deal with it.
In the meantime, this proposal could receive interim committee study, giving all parties a chance to participate and explore whether this is the best option for a tax increase should one become necessary. Better yet, why not some interim study to size up the potential federal cuts and develop a comprehensive plan that would include curtailing spending or tapping some of the permanent funds before we get to raising taxes? Does the Early Childhood Education and Care Department really need more than an $11 billion trust fund? There are a lot of trade-offs to consider – taxing New Mexicans more should be last on the list of things to do.
Montoya also reaffirmed testimony from the Independent Petroleum Producers that the number of small companies in New Mexico has decreased from 518 in 2017 to 414 in 2023. These are the companies that are community builders, supporting local clubs and organizations. Losing them is more than just losing jobs and tax revenues. He pointed out that just a 3% decline in production would cost the state $350 million in lost revenue.
Hell Bent on a Tax Increase
You might have heard that expression all your life and have wondered, what exactly does that mean? According to Collins Dictionary, it means that, “you are emphasizing that they (people) are determined to do it, even if this causes problems or difficulties for other people.” You may remember last week that we wrote about good deals and bad deals. This bill is a bad deal because all the parties to the transaction weren’t consulted or involved and some parties (namely state government) get all the benefits at the expense of others. Nevertheless, expect to see this bad deal get rolled into the overall tax package, which will be similar to a piñata full of candy, making it hard to vote against. As Gov. Bruce King might have said, “We’re just going to have to see where all this broken glass lands.” Yep.
A BAD IDEA ADVANCES: APPOINTED STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION GETS A ‘DO-PASS’
Today the Senate Rules Committee heard Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 15, a constitutional amendment to create an appointed state board of education that would, in turn, appoint a state superintendent of public education. The superintendent of public instruction as the head of the Public Education Department would set policy for public schools as provided by law. The elected Public Education Commission would continue to serve as the chartering authority for state-authorized charter schools.
Terri Cole, president and CEO of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition of SJR 15:
“It is problematic that this legislation gives no indication of who the board members would, could be, or the mechanism by which they’d be appointed. It’s a heart-of-the-matter issue. So far this session, we’ve heard proposals for a 15-member partially elected board, an 11-member board, a fully elected 10-member board, and now this nine-member appointed, in what looks like an undetermined way.
“Some would keep the PEC, some would scrap. Changing the governance of public education is just too important an issue to be handled this way. The parameters on who could serve as superintendent under this proposal, we think, are just too restrictive. It wouldn’t be hard to think of any number of great people who could do this job but wouldn’t be able to because of the restrictions.
“Finally, the number of adult decision-makers is not driving students’ unacceptably low-academic performance in New Mexico. This resolution is not going to fix what’s broken. Let’s not advance a so-called solution that hasn’t worked before and won’t again.
“Thank you very much madam chair members of the committee.”
Joining the Chamber in opposition were NewMexicoKidsCan!, Public Charter Schools of New Mexico, Teach Plus+ New Mexico, the League of Women Voters and the New Mexico Public Education Department.
Gregory Frostad, assistant secretary of education at the Public Education Department, said there is no body of research to support that having a state board would be a better system of governance. “I also wanted to mention that you’re likely to hear that this will increase the stability of the secretary or the superintendent, because prior to this, prior to 2003, we had long-term stability in those positions,” Frostad said. “That is not specific to New Mexico. That is a national trend. In 2008, the tenure for a chief state school officer was six years nationally. In just seven years that was cut in half to just about three years and has continued to decline. There’s no guarantee that going to a State Board of Education would increase stability.”
Sen. William Soules (D-Doña Ana) said he came up with a different way of doing a state board of education that might be considered a “board of stakeholders.” “What the vision would be is the PEC would stay as it is, they would still oversee charters. But the state board would consist of nine members all appointed from the various stakeholders – one from the Senate, one from the House, one from the minority in the Legislature, one from the governor, one from the school board association, one from the unions, one from the superintendent association, one from tribal nations and one from the charter schools,” Soules said. “What that would do is it would take away what has become the culture wars in school board elections where people who really aren’t interested in high-quality public education but are more interested in their particular ideology, whether it be left or right, but would now have the board run by people who are deeply invested in and care about education, and are appointed by those other groups that care and are deeply invested in education.”
Sen. Crystal Brantley (R-Catron, Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra & Socorro) said she wanted to see the education system de-politicized. “It was noted that under Gov. Richardson, he had one PED secretary. And so there was continuity there. And under Martinez, there were two for a long time. And now under the current administration, we had seven secretaries, if you count the interims. And so it just seems that this is a leadership problem and not a systems problem,” Brantley said. Brantley pointed out that under the current system there is one person to hold accountable in the form of the PED secretary. She’s concerned that between the board and the superintendent that accountability will be diffused and fragmented.
After much discussion. Sen. Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics (D-San Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance & Valencia) made a motion to table the bill, but that motion was voted down 5-3.
The bill then passed on a 5-3 vote, and it will next head to Senate Education.
SB 235 – SCHOOL MATH CHANGES ADD UP AND
ARE HEADED TO THE SENATE FLOOR
The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee worked through Sunday supper and took up a bill by career educator and Senate Education Chair Bill Soules (D-Doña Ana).
His Senate Bill 235 School Math Changes establishes a framework for math education and professional development for teachers. Improving reading education seems to get a lot of attention, and math is sometimes left out of the equation. This bill is an effort to strengthen math education as well.
“As we all know, after the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit, there’s been a large focus on reading and instruction in that area,” Soules told the committee. “Though when Judge Singleton came down with the ruling, math was actually a larger concern. (But) we’ve kind of put off the math side of all of that as we put in the science of reading. And now it’s time that we start focusing in education on the changes that we need in math.”
Enrique C. Knell laid out the Chamber’s view in support of the bill:
“LESC figures show that only 24% of third-graders were math proficient in 2024. By the 11th grade, that drops to a frightening 12%. Those numbers don’t add up to long-term success for our students. But we can turn that around and give our kids better outcomes. We believe every New Mexico child can learn, and SB 235 will ensure our schools and teachers have the tools they need to help all children learn math.”
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, Soules’ proposal requires public schools to use a PED-approved early numeracy screener to assess students’ math performance prior to completion of the second grade. If a student in kindergarten through fifth grade is identified as having trouble with math, SB 235 requires schools to provide that student with appropriate
interventions and written notice to the parents within 15 days of the administration of the early numeracy screener. The bill defines “math difficulty” as a student’s inability to perform at grade level when learning or applying mathematical concepts.
SB 235 requires PED to establish a mathematics instructional leadership framework providing standards for mathematical content, instruction, ongoing professional learning, mathematics coaching and program evaluation. PED would also be required to determine minimum course requirements for licensure for prekindergarten through third grade, kindergarten through eighth grade, fifth through ninth grade, special education, and alternative licensure.
When you put this together with other bill that will institute the “Science of Reading” in our classrooms, we’re starting to have a cohesive strategy that we hope will pay dividends sooner rather than later. We need to help our students succeed. This is the way.
SB 235 passed the committee 6-3. Next stop: Senate floor.
BILL ALLOWING RENT CONTROL,
WHICH WILL HURT HOUSING SUPPLY, ADVANCES
Senators sparred on Sunday over a bill that could violate private property rights while instituting price controls on rental properties. Senate Bill 216, sponsored by Sen. Linda M. López (D-Bernalillo), removes the prohibition on rent control in New Mexico. The bill itself does not enact rent control but allows local political subdivisions or home rule municipalities to discuss and potentially enact ordinances or resolutions that control rental rates for privately owned rental properties. The existing prohibition on rent control was established in 1991. The sponsor says she wants to repeal that prohibition to allow New Mexicans to consider rent control as a tool to address local housing crises.
Enrique C. Knell spoke in opposition to the bill on behalf of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce:
“New Mexicans need and deserve affordable housing. However, we do not feel that rent control is the solution. Freezing rents will stop new development at a time we most need it. And that ripple effect will kill local construction jobs and severely hamper economic development efforts. The only real solution for our current housing shortage is to build more units for people to live in. In other words, we need more housing, not more regulations. Things like streamlined permitting, zoning reform and incentives will help lower rents.”
Rep. Cynthia Nava (D-Bernalillo) worked for the federal Housing and Urban Development Department. She explained that she grew up in apartment homes her entire life and understands the challenges of paying rent. However, she sees both sides. “We know that there is a lot of research out there that studies and examines the impacts of rent control, which, yes, folks have been correct. It lowers supply of rental accommodation. It provides also less new rental housing construction. And sometimes there is a fall in the quality of rental housing as well. So I see both sides of this coin.”
Sen. Larry Scott (R-Chaves, Eddy, & Lea) pointed out that the committee had just spent at least an hour discussing other bills that sought to spur housing supply, “Sen. Nava was right on target: rent control will reduce the amount of available housing… it will reduce the supply, and we just spent the last hour, trying to figure out how to increase the supply.”
Both Scott and Sen. Jay Block (R-Bernalillo & Sandoval) said they found themselves conflicted. While they oppose rent control, they both explained they are big advocates for local control. Scott summed it up, “As public policy, this is a terrible idea. From a local control standpoint, it’s a great idea. But we don’t want this (rent control) to happen.”
Sen. Angel Charley (D-Bernalillo, Cibola, McKinley, Socorro & Valencia) thanked the sponsor for her bill, saying, “When all of the opposition is the system, I know you’re doing something right.” Charley was referring to the individuals who testified against the bill, including the Apartment Association, the N.M. Association of Realtors, the Associated General Contractors, NAIOP and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber Of Commerce. Scott retorted, “Without the system, nobody has a place to live. Madam Chair, I came down on the side of private property rights, which is the ultimate expression of local control.”
The bill ultimately passed on a 6-3 party-line vote and heads next to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
TRADE PORT DEVELOPMENT SENT TO SENATE
By a wide margin of 56-4, the House sent Rep. Patty Lundstrom’s (D-McKinley) House Bill 19 to the Senate today. The Chamber has supported the bill all along the way to the House floor. Lundstrom’s forward thinking would provide the funding and coordination for building inland ports of entry to facilitate trade, improve infrastructure and create more jobs. She wants New Mexico to be more than a “bridge state,” in other words more than just an overnight stopping place for rail, truck and aviation traffic. She foresees trade ports as a place where business is conducted, much like what is happening in Santa Teresa, for example.
Containing $90 million in the budget bill, HB 19 would stimulate the development of integrated business plans that would surface viable projects for approval and leverage not only the money in this bill but other state funds. For example, part of a project may call for wastewater treatment improvements that might find funding support from the Environment Department. While Lundstrom’s primary interest is in Gallup, where 7,000 trucks pass daily, she pointed to other areas of the state that might also benefit, such as Bernalillo County, Carlsbad and Farmington. The Chamber has been working with Bernalillo County on the Interstate 40 Inland Trade Port for some time, and the county’s economic development experts have amassed close to $40 million in funding for the project.
Though all these would be public projects, ultimately belonging to a government entity, some could be developed through public-private partnerships. Lundstrom is an economic developer by trade, and her expertise and experience are obvious in this progressive idea.
PROTECTING CONSUMER DATA GETS A
UNANIMOUS GREEN LIGHT TO PROCEED
Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe) was back before the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee today, presenting House Bill 410, Consumer Info & Data Protection Act. Serrato had altered the bill to address concerns highlighted the last time the bill was heard in this committee.
HB 410 prohibits businesses that conduct operations in New Mexico or offer products and services targeted to residents from providing employees or contractors access to consumer health data unless that individual is contractually or statutorily obligated to confidentiality.
The bill restricts businesses from providing a processor (an entity that processes personal data on behalf of a business) with access to consumer health data and from selling or offering to sell the consumer’s health data without first obtaining the consumer’s consent.
Enrique C. Knell shared the Chamber’s support for the measure:
“All of us would agree that our health data is among the most personal and private information there is. Strong data privacy protections protect consumers and boost their confidence that they are dealing with a responsible business. Establishing uniform rules for data collection and processing will help businesses streamline compliance and avoid legal uncertainty. Also, data security measures can prevent costly data breaches and lawsuits. Having the same data standards weeds out the bad actors and limits gaining competitive advantage through irresponsible data practices.”
The bill was adopted on a 9-0 vote and proceeds next to the House Judiciary Committee.
GOOD IDEAS SOMETIMES DIE: ALTERNATE
FAMILY LEAVE BILL TABLED IN COMMITTEE
Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Doña Ana, Sierra & Socorro) presented House Bill 446, Parental Leave and Fund, before the House Health and Human Services Committee this morning. If you recall, she previously presented this bill as a floor substitute to the onerous HB 11, Family Wellness and Welcome Child Act, that is awash in red ink.
Dow’s version is a much more limited — some may say more reasonable — program that can be paid for out of existing state revenues, including the Early Childhood Education and Care Trust fund. It requires NO payroll tax increases and has an estimated cost of $19 million. The costlier bill comes with a first-year price tag north of $193 million plus over $200 million in payroll taxes that are likely to increase in the future. A $19 million investment in parental leave from the ECEC Trust fund perfectly aligns with the mission of the ECECD, which is to provide services from prenatal to kindergarten.
J.D. Bullington spoke in support on behalf of the Chamber:
“The subject of paid family leave has received a lot of attention and debate, with the House recently passing HB 11. Unfortunately, that bill is a bridge too far for us to support because of our concerns about new taxation and uncertain fiscal soundness. In contrast, HB 446 is more limited in scope, allowing us to get more experience, before expanding to a larger program. Its cost is a modest $19 million per year, funded from the soon-to-be $11 billion Early Childhood Trust fund if the Legislature chooses to appropriate it in that manner. This bill avoids a tax increase and fiscal uncertainty. It provides paid parental leave of six weeks, with the option of a parent purchasing an additional three weeks. This is a proposal that the business community would enthusiastically support and should be moved ahead. We encourage a ‘yes’ vote.”
Several advocates opposed the bill, including the executive director of Equality NM. He said he opposes the legislation because he “can’t support a leave schedule where any new child supersedes the need for spending time with a dying loved one or caring for a trans-family member after gender-affirming surgery which, by the way, takes more than six weeks to recover from… (This) is an inherently inequitable approach to protecting workers.”
The National Organization of Women, the Women’s Institute and the ACLU also opposed this parental leave plan.
Jim Copeland, the Executive Director of the Association of Developmental Disabilities Community Providers, stood in support of Dow’s legislation. Copeland said that the employer contribution in HB 11 is a “premium or a tax” that would be an unfunded mandate for contracted providers who provide services to more than 8,000 disabled New Mexicans. He asked for the panel to support and vote for HB 446 as a more fiscally responsible alternative.
Freshman Rep. Nicole Chavez (R-Bernalillo) said this would help her daughter, who is expecting her first child in April. But she worries about the effect of HB 11 on New Mexico’s economy. “Most of our businesses in this state are small-business owners. They will not be able to afford continuing to keep their doors open if the bigger bill passes. However, today we are talking about this wonderful bill (HB 446). It’s going to help new parents that need the help that can bond with their children and be able to take that leave with pay. So thank you so much for bringing this forward, Rep. Dow.”
Dow said, “I cannot believe that the National Organization of Women is opposing paid maternity and paternity leave at the birth of a child, the adoption of the child, and for fostering. I cannot believe that the Women’s Institute and ACLU are opposing paid leave for families at the birth of a child, the adoption of a child, and fostering. Apparently, advocacy groups oppose this bill. No one else does. And apparently, people who are not willing to compromise oppose this bill. No one else does. I hear the word compromise all the time. This is good for families. It’s good for New Mexico. It’s fiscally responsible. We have the funds for it. This is a win-win. The people who support it want to support their employees, they want to support their families, and they want their businesses to thrive. The Chamber agrees with Rep. Dow, the disability community and several of the members of the panel that this bill is a reasonable compromise that business owners, employees and families can support.”
But, good ideas all too often die in committee in the Legislature. And that’s what happened here. The bill came to an unceremonious end on a vote to table that narrowly succeeded, 5-4.
INTERSTATE TEACHER MOBILITY COMPACT GETS NO OPPOSITION, GOES TO JUDICIARY
On Monday morning, the House Education Committee heard House Bill 110, Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, sponsored by Rep. Debra M. Sariñana (D-Bernalillo), though Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Bernalillo) stepped in for Sariñana to present the bill.
HB 110 would enter New Mexico into the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, which allows teachers with an eligible license from a compact member state to be granted an equivalent license in another compact member state. License recipients would be required to meet New Mexico licensure requirements when they renew or advance. It also aids military members and their spouses, as it streamlines the process for educators to obtain teaching credentials when moving between states.
Adrian Gomez from the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce said the Chamber supports this bill because it would get “qualified teachers to fill (teaching) vacancies and (would have) positive effects on student achievement. It would keep New Mexico competitive – and is a real way to do so.” Joining the Chamber in support of the bill were the Military Base Planning Commission and New Mexico Chamber of Commerce. There was no opposition to the bill.
Adam Diersing, senior policy analyst for the Council of State Governments in the National Center for Interstate Compacts, said the compact does allow for state-specific requirements to stand — and he suggests that those be placed after the point of the license being granted prior to the first renewal of that license.
The motion was made for a “do-pass,” which was approved on a vote of 10-0. The bill moves to the House Judiciary Committee.
MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT MOVES TO HOUSE FLOOR WITH UNANIMOUS ‘DO-PASS’
The House Judiciary Committee was in session after the House floor this afternoon and moved to business quickly. The committee began by hearing House Bill 243, Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, sponsored by Rep. Marian Matthews (D-Bernalillo). The bill enters New Mexico in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact for the purpose of facilitating interstate practice by physicians and improving public access to physician services. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission would serve as the national administrative body, and the bill authorizes the governor to appoint two members to the commission.
Adrian Gomez, testifying for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber has lent its support to a number of medical compacts this legislative session. Using data from the New Mexico Medical Board, the Chamber believes that entering into this compact could increase licensed doctors in New Mexico by 10 to 15% — which is a significant increase during a time when getting a doctor’s appointment can take months. It is a very critical piece in helping build up our health care system.
Joining the Chamber in support for the bill are:
- New Mexico Medical Board
- New Mexico Military Base Planning Commission
- Greater Albuquerque Medical Association
- Think New Mexico
- Los Alamos County
- AARP NM
- Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains
Matthews said there were 30% of doctors lost in 2019 and the state hasn’t recovered. “The statistics on losing doctors come from a group called the Physician Advocacy Institute, and they do a nationwide survey of billing physicians. They found between 2019-2014, the number of physicians billing nationwide increased by 44,000, but the number billing in New Mexico decreased by 248. We are the only state that saw a decrease; it’s a loss of doctors providing care.” (The survey counts the number of physicians that are billing patients. In New Mexico, there are a number of retired physicians who keep their license current, despite not practicing.)
If passed into law, the compact would begin in June. A motion was made for a “do-pass,” and the committee voted in favor by a vote of 10-0. The bill will head to the House floor.
HEALTH PRACTITIONER TAX CREDIT BILL HEADS TO HOUSE TAX AND REVENUE
The House Education Committee kept the ball rolling Monday morning as it also heard House Bill 395, Health Practitioner Tax Credit, sponsored by Rep. Anita Gonzales (D-San Miguel & Torrance).
The bill would allow a nonrefundable income tax credit up to $1,000 per preceptorship for preceptors for medical students. A preceptorship provides, on an uncompensated basis during a period of supervised clinical training at UNM or other New Mexico universities, a program of personalized instruction, training and supervision to an eligible graduate student to obtain an eligible professional degree. The preceptorship must last at least four weeks and limits claims to five preceptorships per taxable year.
Gonzales made an amendment to the bill that said a preceptor is a volunteer that oversees any sort of residencies. In the original language, it only specified that they were employees of a university. The amendment clarified that they could also be a volunteer for the university that is overseeing that residency, opening it up to community preceptors. The other clarification was to find a way for nurse midwives to be included in this bill.
Adrian Gomez, SVP of policy for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill, saying, “This bill helps keep New Mexico competitive as there are eight other states offering a program similar to this as the state faces a medical personnel shortage. The Chamber is pleased to support this bill as it is one avenue in retaining health care officials in the state, and we ask you to vote to pass it.”
Also standing in support of the bill were the New Mexico Nursing Association, the New Mexico Nurse Practitioner Council, Think New Mexico, Southwest Bone and Joint Institute and American College of Nurse Midwives.
Matthew Probst, a long-time physician assistant, said the state’s health care workforce crisis is real and a major priority in this Legislature as there are so many pressing current demands on the health care workforce, yet there are so few to take care of so many.
Probst said among all of those pressing demands is also an intrinsic, altruistic need to pay it forward, which means they were all once mentored as required to become licensed health professionals during their academic programs.
“And it is upon us as a limited workforce to now precept and mentor the next generation,” Probst said. “Without that, we cannot have more licensed health care professionals in New Mexico. That is currently an unpaid demand. We all know we need to do it, but with all the other pressures upon us, it is becoming increasingly difficult. What this tax credit really does is bust open that bottleneck currently right now as we try to expand spots in all of our academic programs – be that social work programs, nurse practitioner programs, physician assistant residencies.”
With no opposition, House Bill 395 received a “do-pass” as amended by a vote of 10-0. The bill heads to the House Taxation and Revenue Committee.
SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE COMPACT GETS A ‘DO-PASS,’ HEADS TO SENATE JUDICIARY
On Sunday afternoon, the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee, heard Senate Bill 105, Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, sponsored by Sen. Linda M. Trujillo (D-Santa Fe).
This is one of many compact bills sponsored by Trujillo during this legislative session and aims to facilitate interstate practice of regulated social workers and improve public access to competent social work services.
Trujillo reminded the committee that the bill is supported by the Department of Defense, as it is a family-friendly policy that allows spouses and other family members to be gainfully employed almost immediately upon getting a new assignment at a New Mexico military base.
Trujillo said if the bill passes, the social work licenses aren’t being issued just yet, but New Mexico will be at the front of the line.
The Chamber has supported the other medical compact bills during this session.
Adrian Gomez, SVP of policy, testified in support of the bill for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, saying:
“Entering the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact will make it easier for licensed providers in other states to treat New Mexicans – in person or in a telehealth setting. This bill is a real way to get more New Mexicans the care they need and address our serious lack of providers.
“It also helps New Mexico remain competitive. The Chamber is pleased to support this bill as it aims to bring more care to New Mexicans, and we ask you to vote to pass it.”
Joining the Chamber in support were the University of New Mexico Hospital and Bernalillo County. There was no opposition to the bill.
Sen. Shannon D. Pinto (D-McKinley & San Juan) asked if there’s been a review to determine compatibility of service requirements with the New Mexico state law. Trujillo said the state’s standards for social work do match the national standards.
Sen. Jay C. Block (R-Bernalillo & Sandoval) questioned a clause in respect to qualified immunity, defense and indemnification and why it’s been put in all the compact bills. He said without this, he would show his support for all compacts on the Senate floor.
Sen. Linda M. López (D-Bernalillo) also was concerned with the wording, but she said she hopes it will be worked out by amendment in the Senate Judiciary Committee as all the compact bills move forward so the bills are uniform.
The committee voted “do-pass” by a vote of 5-4, with López as the lone Democrat voting “no” with the Republicans. SB 105 now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
HOUSE JUDICIARY GIVES A ‘DO-PASS’ TO
NM JOINING THE COUNSELING COMPACT
This afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee heard House Bill 217, Counseling Compact, sponsored by Rep. Pamelya Herndon (D-Bernalillo). The bill proposes that New Mexico join in the Counseling Compact, a contract among states, allowing professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without need for multiple licenses. According to Rep. Herndon, there are more than 35 states in the compact.
The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce’s Adrian Gomez was there to testify in support of the bill, saying:
“There are a number of bills authorizing New Mexico to enter various health care compacts. All are designed to bring health care professionals to our state. We all know how important attracting mental health professionals is as we wrestle with rebuilding the state’s behavioral health system. HB 217 offers one answer to how do we attract these professionals to New Mexico. We urge your support of HB 217.”
Joining the Chamber in support of the bill were Think New Mexico, New Mexico Military Base Planning Commission, United States Department of Defense, AARP New Mexico, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Santa Fe. A motion was made for a “do-pass,” and it was approved on a 10-0 vote. The bill now heads to the House floor.
SIGNING OFF FROM SANTA FE
Half baked. That’s what today feels like. A half-baked massive tax increase on oil is going to be swept into the tax package. A half-baked restructuring of public education moves ahead. On both, no interim study, little stakeholder involvement, just off-the-top-of-the-head, last-minute shots in the dark. The Legislature is generally better than this – insisting on fact-based evidence, metrics and solid analysis. The train jumped the tracks today. However, we do have some happy ideas – today is national Read Across America Day, and we’re darned proud of our Albuquerque Reads program that has volunteers reading to children. It’s also national I Want To Be Happy Day. So, don’t worry, let’s be happy! And happily, we leave you with our best wishes for a good evening and see you tomorrow. Good night.
