2-22-23 Alert

Good Afternoon, New Mexico Activists:

We have one new hearing to tell you about tomorrow and some information about new hearings coming up on Saturday. Tomorrow’s hearing is a little late-notice, but the Senate Finance Committee isn’t posting their agendas on the Committee Schedule page until very late. This one is still not posted, but I found it by digging around a bit:

On Thurs., Feb. 23, 1:30 p.m., Room 322, Senate Finance will hear SB 11 Paid Family & Medical Leave Act. SB 11 uses employer and employee contributions to give employees up to 12 weeks of paid leave per year for reasons such as childbirth, bereavement for the loss of a child, caring for an ill family member, and situations of domestic abuse or sexual assault. It would require employees to pay about $5 for every $1,000 of earned wages and employers to pay about $4 for every $1,000 of paid wages. Employers with fewer than five employees (66% of most NM businesses) and self-employed contractors would not be required to pay into the fund (nor would they receive the benefits). Please contact committee members today to urge them to vote “YES” on SB 11.

You can offer public comment in person or via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81696207177. Or Zoom via telephone at 1 669 444 9171. Meeting ID: 816 9620 7177. To provide written comments or to register to speak using Zoom, please email SFC.Zoom@nmlegis.gov ASAP. Or watch the hearing via Webcast at this link.

Senate Finance Committee

  • Chair: George K. Munoz (D). District 4 (Cibola, McKinley & San Juan). Room 325B, 986-4371. Email: george.munoz@nmlegis.gov
  • Vice Chair: Nancy Rodriguez (D). District 24 (Santa Fe). Room 325A, 986-4264. Email: nancy.rodriguez@nmlegis.gov
  • Ranking Member: William E. Sharer (R). District 1 (San Juan). Room 415H, 986-4381. Email: bill@williamsharer.com
  • Member: William F. Burt (R). District 33 (Chaves, Lincoln & Otero). Room 415C, 986-4366. Email: bill.burt@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Pete Campos (D). District 8 (Colfax, Guadalupe, Harding, Mora, Quay, San Miguel & Taos). Room 302B, 986-4311. Email: pete.campos@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Crystal R. Diamond (R). District 35 (Doña Ana, Hidalgo, Luna & Sierra). Room 414C, 986-4703. Email: crystal.diamond@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales (D). District 6 (Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe & Taos). Room 218A, 986-4362. Email: roberto.gonzales@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Siah Correa Hemphill (D). District 28 (Catron, Grant & Socorro). Room 416F, 986-4863. Email: siah.hemphill@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Michael Padilla (D). District 14 (Bernalillo). Room , . Email: michael.padilla@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Jeff Steinborn (D). District 36 (Doña Ana). Room 302A, 986-4862. Email: jeff.steinborn@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Pat Woods (R). District 7 (Curry, Quay & Union). Room 415D, 986-4393. Email: pat.woods@nmlegis.gov

Bulk email: “William F. Burt” <bill.burt@nmlegis.gov>, “Pete Campos” <pete.campos@nmlegis.gov>, “Crystal R. Diamond” <crystal.diamond@nmlegis.gov>, “Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales” <roberto.gonzales@nmlegis.gov>, “Siah Correa Hemphill” <siah.hemphill@nmlegis.gov>, “George K. Munoz” <george.munoz@nmlegis.gov>, “Michael Padilla” <michael.padilla@nmlegis.gov>, “Nancy Rodriguez” <nancy.rodriguez@nmlegis.gov>, “William E. Sharer” <bill@williamsharer.com>, “Jeff Steinborn” <jeff.steinborn@nmlegis.gov>, “Pat Woods” <pat.woods@nmlegis.gov>

Coming on Saturday!

  • On Sat., Feb. 25, 8 a.m., Room 317, House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources will hear HB 12 Advanced Energy Technology Act which we OPPOSE. This appears to be another attempt to sneak hydrogen production into state legislation. We’re working on talking points and will get you more information tomorrow, Feb. 23.
  • On Sat., Feb. 25, 1 p.m., Room 305, House Govt., Elections & Indian Affairs will hear SB 53 Storage of Certain Radioactive Waste. More info on this hearing tomorrow as well.

Please join us for our weekly Huddle, 6-7 p.m. tonight. We’ll talk about some particularly bad new bills that we need to fight against, we’ll cover a list of bills that are sailing through, and we’ll talk about what to do on some bills that are stalled and in danger of dying. Register at this link. But be forewarned: due to the high winds, our wi-fi has been going in and out all day. If you get on the Zoom and it never starts, it’s because our internet is out. Fingers crossed!

In Gratitude & Solidarity,

Roxanne and Paul