Capitol Recap: Here's what happened at the Legislature on Tuesday

Megan Gleason, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·3 min read

Feb. 6—SANTA FE — With a little more than a week left in the 2024 Legislature, lawmakers passed eight bills through the House and Senate floors on Tuesday. One bill wasn't so lucky; it was the only piece of legislation they didn't let pass.

It was a fairly quick discussion for legislators to decide not to pass a bill immigrant advocates have pushed for in multiple sessions. That was the only controversial bill on the Senate floor on Tuesday.

Other than that, the Senate quickly and unanimously passed a slew of bills, including standards for meat inspections and the creation of electronic driver's licenses.

Much of the debate on the House side focused on a measure which would make loans available to housing developers in the state and create a revolving housing fund. After nearly three hours of debate, the bill passed on a 50-16 vote. Representatives more quickly passed bills relating to Kirtland Air Force Base and geothermal energy.

Neither the Senate or House met again Tuesday evening for additional sessions. As the Legislature continues, it's likely the lawmakers will meet later in the evenings to have a chance to get to even a fraction of the hundreds of bills that they've introduced this session.

Here's the full list of legislation the floors heard:

Senate floor

Failed

SB145, Public Bodies and Federal Immigration Violation, 21-18:This bill would have prohibited governments in New Mexico from entering or renewing agreements to detain people for federal civil immigration violations, including with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Passed

SB127, Professional Psychologist Act Changes, 36-0:The bill would give licensed psychologists with a special type of certification to prescribe and administer injections for psychotropic drugs as well as intramuscular and subcutaneous injections. It would also change the structure of the Board of Psychologist Examiners and the committee which reviews complaints against prescribing psychologists.

SB37, committee substitution, Meat Inspection Act, 38-0:This bill would create a new office — the Office of Meat and Poultry Inspection Director — and give the New Mexico Livestock Board the authority to "ensure the safety and quality of meat and poultry" for consumption, according to the bill's fiscal impact report. It would also require NMLB to inspect approved meat slaughtering, processing or manufacturing facilities.

SB116, Tobacco Fund is not a Reserve Fund, 38-0: The tobacco settlement permanent fund would be removed from the general fund reserves by this bill. The fund was created in 2000 as part of an agreement between the state and big tobacco companies, according to the New Mexico State Investment Council. The bill's fiscal impact report states removing the fund would allow it to "be invested with higher return targets."

SB88, Electronic Driver's License Credentials, 38-0: This bill would allow the Motor Vehicle Division to give out electronic drivers licenses.

House floor

Passed

HB195, Housing Fund and Changes, 50-16: The bill would expand the Opportunity Enterprise Act to include loans to housing developers in an effort to promote construction of new housing units. The legislation would also increase the number of members on the Opportunity Enterprise Review Board from 12 to 14 and create a housing development revolving fund.

HJR11, Kirtland AFB Land Jurisdiction, 65-0: The joint resolution would approve a deal regarding a parcel of land on Kirtland Air Force Base. Currently, the federal government has exclusive federal legislative jurisdiction over the property; the resolution would allow the state and federal governments to share parallel right to legislate in regards to the property and people living there.

HB91, Geothermal Resources Project Funds, 60-5: The bill would do a couple of things: first, it would appropriate $600,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources department. It would also send $25 million to create two new funds for geothermal projects.

HB209, Regional Council Fund Match Requirement, 65-0: The bill would remove a requirement that regional councils need to find matching non federal funds to receive grants-in-aid (grants to fund programs or projects) from the Department of Finance and Administration.