On Jan. 20, the Chamber put out the first edition of the 2025 Legislative RoundUp. And on Jan. 21, the first session of the 57th Legislature convened, kicking off a 60-day general session that ends on March 22, 2025.
The Chamber will be there every step of the way to bring you coverage of all the measures that will advance or hamper New Mexico’s economic competitiveness.
First and foremost, we need for decision makers to come together around the goal of vastly improving New Mexico’s economic competitiveness. Then we need consensus on specific steps to be taken:
- Make New Mexico a Safer Place: Drug addiction and other behavioral health disorders are a key driver of the state’s crime problem – increased investment in addiction services and treatment are needed. At the same time, laws need to be strengthened to make it harder to be a criminal in our state. Stiffer penalties for serious and violent crimes, ending the revolving door to keep bad guys off the streets, increasing the ranks of law enforcement and equipping them with the most modern crime-fighting technology are all key steps.
- Reduce the Tax Burden: on businesses and families. Despite hundreds of millions of dollars of “new money,” neither the executive or legislative budgets contain any form of tax relief or reform. The high gross-receipts tax and tax “pyramiding” are major burdens on New Mexico’s small businesses. Ninety percent of New Mexico businesses have 20 or fewer employees.
- Ensure High-Performing Schools Are Run by Great Leaders: There is a direct correlation between school performance and great leaders who, in turn, attract great teachers, who, in turn, produce excellent student outcomes. Leadership development, expansion of high-quality charter schools and early literacy development are all key ingredients to making this goal a reality. Businesses won’t come to New Mexico, nor will they expand, unless there is a qualified workforce.
- Make New Mexico an Attractive Place to Practice Medicine: It’s not really healthcare if it’s hard to find a doctor and medical appointments take months to schedule. Removing GRT taxes on medical providers and patients, raising Medicaid reimbursement rates and overhauling the medical malpractice system are among necessary steps.
On Friday, the Chamber will roll out its legislative agenda developed in cooperation with our many business partners in both the public and private sectors and approved by our Board of Directors. At that time, we can share with you all the detailed actions we believe are necessary to move the ball down the field.
To sign up to receive the Chamber’s Legislative RoundUp, email [email protected].