Latest news with #BusinessandTransportationCommittee
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill that could create funding tool for fairground redevelopment passes first committee
Mar. 12—A bill introducing a new financial tool to fund the possible redevelopment of the State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque has passed its first committee. The legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, passed through the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee on a 6-3 vote Tuesday and is now slated to go in front of the Senate Finance Committee. The bill, Senate Bill 481, would establish the current fairgrounds location just off Albuquerque's Central Avenue and any additional land nearby the state acquires as the "State Fairgrounds District Fund." The State Fair has taken place at Expo New Mexico since 1938, but in December, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a plan to flip the fairgrounds into a mixed-use development. "This has the potential to really change a section of our city, very close to my district, that's been troubled for a long time," Sen. Natalie Figueroa, D-Albuquerque, said Tuesday during committee. Figueroa was joined by the other four committee Democrats present Tuesday — Sen. Debbie O'Malley, D-Albuquerque, was not in attendance — and Sen. Gabriel Ramos, R-Silver City, in voting in favor of advancing the bill. The tax committee's other three Republicans — Sens. Nicholas Paul of Alamogordo, Joshua Sanchez of Bosque and William Sharer of Farmington — opposed the bill. In addition to classifying the area as a state district fund, the bill also creates a board to make financial decisions, including the ability to issue revenue bonds of up to $1 billion. But Sharer said the bill does not provide enough oversight for financial decisions. "If we're looking for fraud, waste and abuse, this is where I would start looking," Sharer said. The bill passes at a time when another proposed tool to fund the redevelopment of the fairgrounds is in limbo. Bernalillo County commissioners at the request of the state voted back in January to pass a resolution to establish a Tax Increment Development District, or TIDD, at the site of the fairgrounds and take a vote on it Tuesday — the same day the proposed legislation went in front of lawmakers in Santa Fe. But a contentious public meeting followed that resolution in February, where residents expressed opposition to moving the State Fair, and county leadership pointed the finger at the state for canceling a $500,000 request for proposal to redevelop the area hours before the meeting. On Friday, Bernalillo County announced it would not be taking a vote to establish a TIDD on Tuesday after all. "The county awaits a master plan from the State of New Mexico for public infrastructure for the 236-acre State Fairgrounds before proceeding," county spokesperson Randy Harrison said in a statement. "Once the master plan is completed, the Board of County Commissioners retains the option to present and approve a TIDD." Harrison also said that the state would no longer pursue Senate Bill 482, a bill that would've created the joint TIDD between the county and state that could've authorized up to $1 billion in bonds.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Paid leave bill clears first Senate committee
A bill to extend paid time off to more New Mexico workers took a step closer to becoming law Saturday. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act passed out of the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee on a 6-4 party-line vote. It now heads to the Senate Finance Committee, which approved last year's version of the bill. Paid leave advocates have been pushing for years to create a state-run program. Last year's bill passed the Senate before failing narrowly in the House. This year's bill started in and has already passed the House, where a handful of more conservative Democrats who opposed the bill last year either stepped down or lost their primary races in June. 'House Bill 11 is a uniquely New Mexican version of paid family and medical leave,' Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, the bill's House sponsor, told the Senate committee Saturday. The first component of the bill, which Chandler likened to an insurance program, would create a fund paid for by premiums on both employers and employees to pay for six weeks of paid leave for workers who get sick or need to take time off for listed reasons such as domestic violence or grieving a lost child. The second component would create the 'Welcome Child Fund' to pay new parents $3,000 a month for up to three months to take time off for a newborn or just-adopted child. 'It's unique and it's different, but I think we feel very fortunate we have strong revenues in our Early Childhood [Education and Care] Department' to pay for it, Chandler said. 'I think it'll be a great boon for us in the state to be supporting families that are having new children,' she added. The Senate committee made a few mostly technical tweaks to the bill, meaning if the Senate passes it, the House will need to agree to the changes before it goes to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk. The six weeks of nonparental leave is a change from previous iterations of the bill. Last year's bill would have provided for 12 weeks' leave, and an initial version this year provided for nine weeks. The public hearing looked similar to others that have been held on the bill over the past couple of years, with supporters saying it would help families with children or who are struggling with medical emergencies and opponents worrying it would drive up costs for businesses that will struggle to replace people who take leave. Bernadette Hardy, with NM Native Vote, said she lost her job when she had to take time off to give birth to her son. Shortly thereafter, her mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer and died. With no income, Hardy and her infant son were left homeless. 'I share my story because people should not be left in poverty because of an unforeseen tragedy,' she said. A few supporters of paid leave called on lawmakers to amend the bill to increase the amount of paid medical leave back to nine weeks. Lan Sena, director of the Center for Civic Policy and a cancer survivor, said six weeks is not enough for someone to get a transplant or treatment. 'We are being hit the hardest during our darkest times,' Sena said. Carla Sonntag, president and CEO of the New Mexico Business Coalition, said many employees as well as employers oppose the bill. 'Many of them don't want to be taxed right now,' she said. 'They need the money to feed their families.' Representatives of other business groups who spoke against the bill noted the particular difficulties sectors such as construction and agriculture have in replacing an employee who goes on leave. 'It isn't fair to the 8,500 agricultural employees in New Mexico who would have to pay into the program to subsidize it but never receive any benefit because they work less than 150 days a year,' said Tom Patterson, president-elect of the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association. George Gunnery, the owner of Tomasita's restaurant, said he supported the parental leave component, but 'overall HB 11 is too burdensome and too big on our family-owned businesses, businesses that are currently struggling.' Gundrey said more established businesses like his would be able to adjust by raising prices or holding off on employee raises, but newer ones would struggle. He said the bill sends the wrong message to people looking to start a business: 'You are better off leaving the state and starting your business where small businesses are more supported and more appreciated.' Chandler said 13 states and Washington, D.C., have similar programs and haven't experienced the 'doomsday scenarios' she heard from commenters and Republican lawmakers. 'I think to expect that our businesses would go under really doesn't give enough credit to New Mexico businesses,' she said.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislation addressing site readiness for developers clears first hurdle
Feb. 18—SANTA FE — Business leaders in New Mexico are seeing momentum build for a bill addressing the state's lack of shovel-ready sites. Senate Bill 169, which would create a $24 million fund to find and prepare sites for business development, passed the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee unanimously Tuesday afternoon. The bill, substituted with some technical changes, goes to the Senate Finance Committee next. Private industry leaders have been avid supporters of site-readiness efforts long before the legislation was introduced in the Roundhouse. Economic Development Secretary-designate Rob Black explained to the committee that even though New Mexico has successful business incentives, developers want sites with infrastructure like power or access to water that are already set up. The measure would allow EDD to partner with public and private entities to get a head start on that work. He used Roswell as a hypothetical example, saying if the city wanted 30 acres characterized, the department could provide a free site characterization and technical assistance before evaluating the site. If a site is determined a strategic economic development site, the city could apply for more money to do work like housing studies or broadband deployment — "things that would help that site become much more developable and marketable," Black said. "It's a way for us to really provide technical assistance and then some level of financial support to help do those studies and that pre-development work," he said. Right after the bill explanation, Senate Minority Leader William Sharer, R-Farmington, moved to pass the legislation. It's a bipartisan effort with five sponsors. About a dozen members of the public showed up to support the legislation. Bill co-sponsor Senate Majority Leader Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque, said he estimates the $24 million allocation request will be adjusted when legislators hammer out the budget.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill raising NM's tax rate on vaping products, nicotine pouches advances Roundhouse
Feb. 18—SANTA FE — A proposed tobacco tax increase in New Mexico is advancing at the Roundhouse after being slimmed down to target vape devices and nicotine pouches. The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee voted 4-3 on Tuesday to advance a bill broadening the definition of nicotine and raising the tax rate for e-cigarettes and other products. Sen. Martin Hickey, D-Albuquerque, a retired physician who is the sponsor of the measure, Senate Bill 20, said it would likely generate between $5 million and $10 million annually. But he said the bill's primary goal is not to raise money amid an ongoing state revenue bonanza, but rather to deter young people in New Mexico from using vaping devices and nicotine pouches. "The reason for this bill is it is a youth health bill," he told reporters after Tuesday's committee vote. "It's the kids I'm trying to save from learning addictive behaviors that, if they do (learn them), will plague them with other substances potentially for the rest of their lives," he later added. In its initial form, the bill would have also increased the state's cigarette tax rate from $2 to $3 per pack, among other changes. But that provision was removed from the legislation amid pressure from lobbyists representing large tobacco companies, Hickey said. Several lobbyists and business owners still testified against the legislation on Tuesday, with one claiming youth e-cigarette usage in New Mexico has declined in recent years. Dan Coffman, the vice president of Gem State Distributors, a wholesaler of candy and tobacco products with an office in Albuquerque, said the bill would have "devastating consequences" on local convenience stores. He also predicted the legislation, if approved, could lead to increased sales of tobacco products in border towns just outside New Mexico. However, advocates say New Mexico's tobacco tax laws have not kept pace in recent years with the proliferation of recent synthetic nicotine products, including flavored pouches, toothpicks, lozenges and gum. Mahesh Sita, government relations director for the American Heart Association in New Mexico, cited data indicating about 25% of New Mexico high school students used vaping products at least once in the last 30 days. Specifically, the bill approved Tuesday would impose a 40% excise tax on the wholesale price of tobacco products, excluding cigarettes and cigars. It would also create a new fund, administered by the state Department of Health, that would help pay for nicotine prevention efforts. New Mexico currently levies a 12.5% tax on vaping products, along with a 50-cent tax per cartridge, according to Tax Foundation data. After Tuesday's committee hearing, Hickey expressed optimism the bill could win legislative approval during this year's 60-day session. "I've got a bill that's going to treat the disease, and I'm thrilled," he said. He also said the higher tax rate for e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and other tobacco products would be only slightly higher than the state's cigarette tax rate. The state's current cigarette tax rate of $2 per pack ranks near the middle of the pack when it comes to the national average. New York currently has the nation's highest rate at $5.35 per pack, while Missouri has the lowest rate at just 17 cents per pack, according to American Lung Association data.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill barring third parties from collecting speed camera fines passes legislative committee
Feb. 11—SANTA FE — A bill that would prohibit cities using third parties to collect unpaid traffic fines from automated cameras passed a Senate committee Tuesday on a slim vote. The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee approved the legislation on a party-line 5-4 vote, with Democrats voting in favor and Republicans in opposition. The bill, Senate Bill 91, sponsored by Rep. Janelle Anyanonu, D-Albuquerque and Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, appears to be targeted at the city they represent. In recent years, Albuquerque and Bernalillo County have introduced automated cameras in select corridors that fine drivers who are speeding 10 mph over the limit. "I am not aware of any institution in our current government where we send our residents to private collection companies in order to enforce our laws," Duhigg told the committee Tuesday. "In a state dealing with lots of poverty already, I think that is very, very bad policy." Albuquerque uses the Washington-based debt collection agency, Evergreen Professional Recoveries Inc., according to city spokesperson Dan Mayfield. He added the city does not have a direct contract with the agency. Senate Minority Leader William Sharer, R-Farmington, who said he runs a debt collection agency himself, took issue with the bill. "It's the certainty of punishment, not the dollar amount. It's the certainty," Sharer said. "So if they're certain they're not going to have to pay the fee, then you've completely destroyed the program." In attendance for the committee hearing were nine Albuquerque Police Department officers, including Traffic Division Cmdr. Benito Martinez. "If there's no consequence for your actions, if you're not held accountable, we need to hold people accountable," he told the Journal following the vote. Martinez added the cameras have helped with a speeding reduction of 43% citywide with certain areas down some 83%. The bill will now go to the Senate Judiciary Committee before going to a vote on the floor to become law. "The person who is responsible for this infraction has to get a notice in some way if they haven't paid. My concern would be, that there would be another fine on top of that, or a late fee, or something like that ... like a tumbleweed, and just keep getting bigger and bigger, and then it becomes very difficult for someone to pay it," Sen. Micaelita Debbie O'Malley, D-Albuquerque, said at the hearing. But she expressed concern about the state trying to override local policy. "I'm also a little reluctant to get involved in this local control issue, too," O'Malley said. "They made the decision to do that as a city." She eventually voted in favor of the bill.
