2-23-21 Alert

Four Hearings Weds: Legalize Cannabis, Sustainable Economy Task Force, Paid Sick Leave, Lower Predatory Lending Rates

Dear New Mexico Activists:

At this point in the Session, things are getting tougher to track, with committee agendas published at 8 p.m. or later the night before, lots of bills being carried over but not appearing on agendas, typos on agendas, changes in process, and some committee hearings not even being published in time to participate! It’s clear everyone is feeling tired and overworked.

So, we’re pretty confident in the info below, but we’re not 100% confident. All we can say is this is what we know now, but it could change by tomorrow morning! That’s the craziness of the second half of the Session…

NEW: Weds., Feb. 24, 8:30 a.m. House Taxation & Revenue: HB 12 Cannabis Regulation Act. Get talking points at the link in the bill title. Also on the agenda is one we want to OPPOSE: HB 278 Manufacturing Services Gross Receipts. Please contact committee members to urge them to support HB 12 and to VOTE AGAINST HB 278 Manufacturing Services Gross Receipts, which gives manufacturers and other businesses an unnecessary and costly tax break. Watch the hearing Webcast at nmlegis.gov or join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84898317503.  Or iPhone one-tap: US: +13462487799, ,84898317503# or +16699009128,,84898317503# Or Telephone: For higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 Webinar ID: 848 9831 7503.

House Taxation & Revenue Committee (HTRC)

NEW: Weds., Feb. 24, 1 p.m. (or ½ hour after Floor Session ends) Senate Finance: SB 112 Sustainable Economy Task Force. Get talking points at the link in the bill title and call and email committee members on Wednesday morning to urge them to support the bill. Watch the hearing Webcast at nmlegis.gov, or follow the directions below to participate and offer public comment. Note they are now saying the deadline is 12 hours prior to the hearing, which means 1 a.m. Wednesday. I guess they’re staying up all night to hear from us! Also note that speaking time is limited, so submitting written comments (up to 300 words) may be the best way to go.

For public participation email Sen.Fin.Comm@nmlegis.gov. Sponsors and Experts have 15 minutes to present the bill followed by 10 minutes each for Proponents and Opponents. Send written comments to SFC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, For or Against and a limit of 300 words or less. All Committee Members have access to written comments. The deadline is 12 hours prior to meeting time. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions.

Senate Finance Committee (SFC)

CARRIED OVER: Weds. Feb. 24, 1:30 p.m. (or 15 minutes after Floor Session) House Judiciary: HB 20 Healthy Workplaces Act. Get talking points at the link in the bill title. Also on the agenda is one of our Priority bills: HB 111 Housing Discrimination Changes. HB 111 would improve the balance between the rights of landlords and the rights of tenants so families who can pay rent and comply with their lease are not evicted; reduce barriers to housing for New Mexicans using housing vouchers and other lawful sources of income such as social security income, child support, or housing assistance to pay rent; and create a statewide housing council to address housing policy and coordinate state resources directed to addressing housing in New Mexico. Please call and email committee members right away to urge them to support these bills. Watch the hearing via Webcast at nmlegis.gov or use this link to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89543370073. Or iPhone one-tap: US: +16699009128, ,89543370073# or +12532158782,,89543370073# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 895 4337 0073.

House Judiciary Committee (HJC)

CARRIED OVER: Weds., Feb. 24, 1:30 p.m. (or ½ hr. after floor session) Senate Judiciary: SB 66 Permitted Percentage Rates for Loans, and from our Priority list, SB 75 State Agency Disclosure of Personal Info.  NOTE: We were told these would be carried over to Weds., but Senate Judiciary has not yet published their agenda, so we can’t be sure. Get talking points for SB 66 at the link above. SB 75 would prohibit state agencies from disclosing sensitive personal information such as a person’s status as a recipient of public assistance or as a crime victim, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, medical condition, immigration status, national origin or religion, and social security number or tax ID number. Please call and email committee members Wednesday morning to urge them to support this bill. Watch the hearing via Webcast at nmlegis.gov.

Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC)

Thanks to all of you for your patience and commitment. No matter how crazy it gets, we’re not giving up, we’re not going away.

In solidarity and hope,

Roxanne and Paul

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