3-10-21 Alert

New Hearings Today & Thurs: Paid Legislature, Civil Rights, Indian Child Welfare, Five Tax Bills

Good Morning New Mexico Activists:

We alert you to two new hearings posted last night, one this afternoon and one tomorrow. Note that the deadline to participate in Senate Judiciary is 10 a.m. today. We also remind you of two other hearings today and one on Friday. (Number in parentheses after each bill title below is where it sits on the agenda.) We’re down to the last 10 days of the Session. Let’s give it our best effort in this final stretch!

NEW: Weds., March 10, ½ hr. after Floor Session ends, Senate Judiciary: SJR 4 Review of Salaries Every Two Years – Paid Legislature (4),  HB 4 NM Civil Rights Act (5), and SB 278 State Indian Child Welfare Act (9). Get talking points for SJR 4 at the link above. HB 4 would establish a right of action against any public body or person representing a public body for violation of an individual’s rights, privileges, or immunities under the NM constitution. It would prohibit the defense of qualified immunity and waive the defense of sovereign immunity in such actions. SB 278 would protect Native American children so they can remain within their tribal communities and extended families.

Please call and email committee members this morning. Watch the Webcast at nmlegis.gov, or follow the instructions below to offer written comment or speak during the hearing. Note the deadline to submit written comments or participate in the hearing is today at 10 a.m.

For public participation send an email to SJC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, For or Against and indicate if you wish to speak. Written comments are limited to 300 words or less. The deadline to respond is Wednesday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions.

Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC)

NEW: Thurs., March 11, 1:30 p.m. or 15 mins. after Floor Session ends, Senate Tax, Business & Transportation: HB 291 Tax Changes (1), HB 15 Sustainable Building Tax Credit (2), HB 90 Tax Penalties & Remedies (4), HB 98 Omnibus Tax Bill (5), and SB 198 Paid Sick Leave (8). We don’t have talking points for these bills, but you canread about general advocacy for tax and revenue reform at this link. All of these bills are worth supporting. Below are descriptions of HB 291 and HB 15. Please email and call committee members today to urge them to pass these bills. Note that the deadline to participate in the hearing is Thursday at 10 a.m.

HB 291 includes several fixes to our tax code to make it more fair and to raise more revenue from stable revenue sources so we are not reliant on boom-or-bust oil and gas revenues. Included are an increase in the personal income tax rate for those who earn the highest incomes, an increase in a tax credit for working families with children, a low-income tax rebate increase, and a limit to the capital gains tax deduction. This bill puts more money in the pockets of low-income New Mexicans while increasing revenue for the state by closing loopholes.

HB 15 creates new incentives for new homes and commercial buildings that include requirements such as broadband access and electric vehicle readiness and, for the first time, the credit includes work on existing homes and buildings, including tax credits for installation of Energy Star heat pumps, water heaters, windows, and doors. Not only does this help lower energy bills for many New Mexicans, it improves community health through reduced emissions.

For public participation send an email to SCORC@nmlegis.gov with your Name, Entity Represented, Bill #, For or Against and indicate if you wish to speak. The deadline to respond is Thursday, March 11 at 10:00 a.m. You will be contacted by our Zoom Operator with the virtual meeting instructions.

Senate Tax, Business & Transportation Committee (STBTC)

REMINDER: Weds., March 10, 9 a.m., House State Govt., Elections & Indian Affairs: SB 75 State Agency Disclosure of Sensitive Info (1). 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. If this bill passes here, it heads to the House Floor for a final vote. Let’s help get it through the final stretch! Please call and email committee members this morning and urge them to support this bill.

Watch the Webcast at nmlegis.gov or join the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89283197941. Or iPhone one-tap: US: +16699009128, ,89283197941# or +12532158782,,89283197941# Or Telephone: For higher quality, dial 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: 892 8319 7941.

House State Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee (HSEIC)

REMINDER: Weds., March 10, 1 p.m. or ½ hr. after Floor Session, Senate Finance: HJR 1 Permanent Fund for Early Childhood (2). Get talking points at the link in the bill title and please call and email committee members this morning to urge them to pass this bill.This is HJR 1’s last stop before a final vote on the Senate Floor! Watch the Webcast at nmlegis.gov. The deadline to participate or submit written comments has passed.

Senate Finance Committee (SFC)

REMINDER: Fri., March 12, 12 p.m., House Commerce & Economic Development: SB 66 Permitted Percentage Rates for Loans (1). This bill would reduce the predatory lending interest rate from 175% to 36%. We need this now more than ever! Get talking points at the link in the bill title and please call and email members today to urge them to pass this bill.

Watch the Webcast at nmlegis.gov or join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83846715600. Or iPhone one-tap US: +12532158782, ,83846715600# or +13462487799,,83846715600# Or Telephone: For higher quality, dial based on your current location): US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 838 4671 5600.

House Commerce and Economic Development Committee (HCEDC)

We’re so happy to be doing this important work with all of you. Please write to us any time at retakeresponse@gmail.com to ask questions, offer suggestions, or just to let us know your thoughts.

In solidarity and hope,

Roxanne and Paul

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