3-11-21 p.m. Alert

New Hearing Friday, one time change: 3 Redistricting Bills, Community Solar, Sustainable Economy Task Force, Lower Predatory Lending Rates. No agenda posted yet for Sen. Judiciary, which is concerning.

Good Evening New Mexico Activists:

First, I mistakenly wrote in the cover note to this morning’s Alert that SB 84 Community Solar and SB 112 Sustainable Economy Task Force would be heard Friday at noon, but it is Friday at 9 a.m. Sorry about that! Please see the reminder below. We also want to tell you about one new hearing tomorrow, where 3 redistricting bills will be discussed and, we hope, rolled into one bill that honors the original intent of HB 211.

Also, the time of the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee hearing has been moved up from Noon to 11:30 a.m., and SB 66 will be heard second, not first. See info below.

At this point in the Session, it’s probably not worth calling or emailing Republican legislators. So please call and email Democrats only. That should save you a little time!

What’s more, the weekly Legislative Strategy Huddle will be focused on our messaging and strategy in relation to stalled bills, reassessing where to place our emphasis in the last week: bills with a chance to get to the finish line or good bills that appear to be out of time. Our Huddle is from 3:30-4:30 tomorrow. Click here to register.

NEW: Fri., March 12, 11:30 a.m., House Judiciary: HB 211 Redistricting Act (4), SB 15 Redistricting Committee (5), and SB 4 Redistricting Precinct Boundaries (6). Our allies at Fair Districts for New Mexico were told they don’t have the votes to pass HB 211, and Senator Ivey-Soto, who is the sponsor of SB 15 and SB 4, has promised he will amend SB 15 to add important provisions that were in HB 211. To read about those amendments, and to sign a petition to legislators to amend SB 15, go to this link at the Fair Districts for New Mexico website. Also please call and email legislators right away to urge them to amend and support SB 15.

Watch the Webcast at nmlegis.gov, or join the hearing at: 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)

REMINDER: Fri., March 12, 9 a.m., House State Govt., Elections & Indian Affairs: SB 84 Community Solar Act (2), SB 112 Sustainable Economy Task Force (3). Get talking points for SB 112 at the link in the bill title. As for SB 84, it was re-amended in House Energy, Environment & Nat. Resources on Tuesday to restore some of the bill’s integrity that was compromised in the Senate. But it would be a much better bill with the following additional amendments from New Energy Economy:

  1. Remove language that allows utility companies to own community solar projects.
  2. Remove language that gives ownership of renewable energy credits to utility companies.
  3. Remove the requirement for each project to have 30% low-income subscribership.

Please call and email committee members right away to urge them to support these bills. In your email, please request the additional amendments to SB 84.

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

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

REMINDER AND TIME CHANGE: Fri., March 12, 11:30 p.m., House Commerce & Economic Development: SB 66 Permitted Percentage Rates for Loans (2). 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. If you need to focus on one legislator, please make it Mo Maestas, the committee chair. He is the only Democrat who we’re unsure will vote in favor of SB 66. Thank you!

Watch the Webcast at nmlegis.gov or join the Zoom: 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)

That’s all for tonight. They may update committee schedules later tonight and, if so, we’ll send another Alert in the morning. In just a little over a week it will be time to celebrate the end of this Session and all the great legislation that was passed. Thank you for being part of it!

In solidarity and hope,

Roxanne and Paul

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