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The First Session of the 55th Legislature
Friday, February 5, 2021
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SENATE COMMITTEE ADVANCES BILL TO BALANCE EMERGENCY POWERS IN GOVERNMENT
This afternoon the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee cleared an amended SB-74 which would place limits on the Governor’s public emergency powers. The bill calls for a legislative and executive balance to address public health emergencies. Under the amended bill, a public health emergency declaration would automatically terminate after 45 days. A renewal of the declaration would go to the bipartisan Legislative Council Committee for approval.
“We are almost eleven months into the Governor’s public health emergency declaration with no apparent end in sight,” said Sen. Greg Baca, Senate Minority Leader. “Thousands of New Mexicans are now out of work, hundreds of businesses have closed, and we still do not know when our children will be able to return to school. Whether you support the heavy-handed actions of the Governor or not, most would agree that no single elected official should have this much power.”
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BAIL REFORM BILL DESIGNED TO STOP “CATCH AND RELEASE” HITS A ROADBLOCK
A House Joint Resolution aimed at setting new conditions for judges to deny bail has stalled. HJR-4, introduced by Rep. Bill Rehm (R-Albuquerque), would call for a public referendum to approve a constitutional amendment to do that. The resolution would stop the revolving door of criminals that have plagued New Mexico communities. Many violent criminals are released awaiting trial and commit new crimes. This is a strong push to crack down on a serious crime problem in our state, but members of the Democrat-dominated State Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee voted 6-3 along party lines to table it. Progressive Democrats continue to be soft on crime, while murder rates skyrocket in our state.
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HOUSE DEMOCRATS PUT RADICAL ENERGY AGENDA AHEAD OF LOW-INCOME NEW MEXICANS IN RATE PROTECTION BILL
Progressive Democrats with their leftist agenda don’t want to help struggling low-income New Mexicans hit with potentially higher energy bills. The House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee tabled HB-176. That Republican-sponsored legislation would have ensured fair and equitable protections for every New Mexican against out-of-control utility rate increases. It would have protected hardworking New Mexicans from utility rate price-gouging as the energy industry grapples with implementing the eco-left’s NM Green New Deal--the Energy Transition Act.
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SICK LEAVE LEGISLATION CLEARS HOUSE COMMITTEE
Two sick leave bills, HB 20 and HB 37 have been combined and cleared 5-3 along party lines by the House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. The bill provides earned sick leave for employees.
This bill will punish our businesses even more after the pain they’ve endured thanks to the Governor’s Public Health Order.
Rep. Luis Terrazas (R-Santa Clara) spoke at length, saying that a new business owner just starting out with one or two employees is in a “fragile” state.
Rep. Joshua Hernandez (R-Rio Rancho) says thousands of small business owners in his district would go out of business if the bill passes.
Many say the sick leave legislation will end up costing the state jobs.
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TIE VOTE STRANDS OPEN PRIMARIES LEGISLATION IN COMMITTEE
Today a rare tie vote blocked the advancement of legislation to open primary elections to independent voters in New Mexico. Competing motions to recommend passage or rejection of the bill each failed on 6-6 votes. The proposal is now stuck in the House Judiciary Committee, preventing it from moving on to the full House for consideration.
House Bill 79 would have allowed voters who aren’t affiliated with a major party to vote in primary elections. They could choose a party’s ballot in the primary, but their status as an unaffiliated voter wouldn’t be changed as a result.
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SEX TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION ADVANCES IN COMMITTEE
Today Rep. Ryan Lane (R-Aztec) moved forward legislation designed to protect victims of sex trafficking. HB-161 would provide protection for victims of sex trafficking, allowing them to provide a defense for themselves against charges for sex trafficking in which they, themselves, were victims as well.
"Sex trafficking is a problem in New Mexico, and if we can change the law to further help protect victims of trafficking, then we should move forward with this bill,” said Lane.
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STUDENT ATHLETE ENDORSEMENT LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD
A bill that would allow a cash flow for New Mexico’s student-athletes has unanimously cleared the Senate Education Committee. SB-94 would let college athletes earn compensation from the use of their name, image or likeness. Until recently, the NCAA prohibited students from making any type of revenue attributed to their roles as amateur athletes.
Sen. Mark Moores (R-Albuquerque) co-sponsored the legislation. “I think people get it,” he said. “With the billions of dollars being spent in athletics and allowing student-athletes to benefit from their name and image, this is only fair. It’s not a partisan issue, it’s a fairness issue.”
Players could earn income for commercial advertisements and endorsements, but more specifically could generate money through their various social media accounts.
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2021 ROUNDHOUSE PROFILES: WORKING HARD FOR YOU
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SEN. STUART INGLE
Sen. Stuart Ingle is a farmer and has been in the Senate since 1985. Sen. Ingle serves Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Lea and Roosevelt Counties. He is a member of the Rules and Health & Public Affairs Committees. Sen. Ingle email: [email protected]
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REP. CATHRYNN BROWN
Rep. Brown is an attorney who lives in Carlsbad. Brown represents Eddy County and has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2011. Committees: Appropriations & Finance and Agriculture & Water Resources. You can email Rep. Brown at: [email protected]
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REP. JACK CHATFIELD
Rep. Chatfield is a rancher who lives in Mosquero. He serves Colfax, Curry, Harding, Quay, Roosevelt, San Miguel and Union Counties. Rep. Chatfield has been in the House of Representatives since 2019. He serves on the Appropriations & Finance and the Education Committees. You can email Rep. Chatfield at: [email protected]
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CHECK OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE NEW MEXICO SENATE AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS FACEBOOK PAGES
To go to the NM Senate Republicans Facebook page, click here.
To go to the NM House Republicans Facebook page, click here.
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DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU WILL RECEIVE REGULAR UPDATES ON KEY BILLS AND OTHER HAPPENINGS AT THE ROUNDHOUSE
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LISTEN TO CHAIRMAN PEARCE'S PODCAST
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Be sure to catch Inside New Mexico with Steve Pearce each week on your favorite podcast platform. You can subscribe to listen and be notified when a new episode is available.
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