Latest news with #HB417
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill that would increase alcohol tax in New Mexico passes first committee
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Getting a six-pack at the grocery store or a glass of wine at your favorite bar may soon cost a little more. HB 417, a bill that would increase taxes on alcoholic beverages, cleared its first hurdle on Wednesday. New Mexico has not seen an alcohol tax increase in more than thirty years. Story continues below Albuquerque: ABQ city councilor calls for update on investigation into APD chief's crash Crime: Day 3 of trial for men accused in fatal shooting of 11-year-old outside Isotopes Park Entertainment: 'Absolutely fascinating:' Doctor on FOX's 'Extracted' details new survival show The idea of raising the liquor tax has been debated in the Roundhouse before and sponsors are hoping this year it makes it across the finish line. A group of Democratic lawmakers are proposing a bill that would impose a 6% sales tax on alcohol saying they hope it would reduce the harms caused by alcohol in the state. 'Is that we will see a change in consumption, we also know that many New Mexicans are struggling with addiction and dependency every day. They're also navigating trauma,' said Rep. Micaela Cadena, (D-Mesilla). Current taxes collected on alcohol go to the general fund and the DWI Fund. Under the new bill, the funds would go to two funds dedicated to addressing social issues related to alcohol, including the creation of a program focusing on helping tribal communities, something supporters agree with. 'Tribal behavioral health programs oftentimes don't have the professional staff or resources to provide treatment and services so we need the funding that's contained in this bill,' said Conroy Chino, Pueblos of Taos and Acoma. 'We also recognize the need for culturally appropriate services in the Tribal Alcohol Harms Alleviation program because we have a slightly higher percentage of veterans in the native communities,' said Dorothy Seaton, Veterans and Military Families Caucus. However, some business advocates think the bill goes too far. 'But unfortunately, at six percent this creates a giant bureaucracy with $3 million just for administration fees and it's going to put us at an uncompetitive point,' said Ron Brown, a Rio Rancho business owner. 'This proposal places yet another financial burden on our businesses and consumers without providing a clear benefit as indicated in the FIR,' said Kristen Thomson, New Mexico Restaurant Association. The bill also has some money for the University of New Mexico in order for them to do research on alcohol-related prevention and treatments. The bill passed its first committee Wednesday morning on a 6-4 vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed alcohol tax passes first committee
A new bill proposes a new tax on alcohol retail sales to benefit treatment programs. Lawmakers today introduced a proposal to raise New Mexico's tax on alcohol for the first time in 30 years and re-direct revenue toward treatment and programs. The House Health and Human Services Committee voted 6-4 to advance House Bill 417, Liquor Tax Changes and Programs. It now heads to the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The bill specifically creates a new 6% sales tax — also called a surtax — on alcohol sold in retail establishments, and eliminates distribution of revenue from the existing alcohol excise tax to the general fund, which currently receives a portion of that money. Instead, the bill creates a new Local Alcohol Harms Alleviation Fund to allocate funding to counties and 'target the communities most in need by prioritizing counties with the highest death rates from alcohol use,' a news release on Wednesday said. Counties that receive the funding 'could use these funds for grants to raise awareness of the harms and risks associated with substance misuse, promote prevention, get people into treatment, and address issues like impaired driving.' HB417 also creates a new Tribal Alcohol Harms Alleviation Fund and Program to provide grants to the state's tribes, nations and pueblos, as well as entities that serve Native Americans. Lawmakers say the bill arrives after months of discussion. The proposal also follows several years of failed efforts to raise the tax on alcohol, and increasing scrutiny of New Mexico's top ranking for alcohol-related deaths. Representatives Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla), Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces) and Cristina Parajón (D-Abuquerque) and Senators Shannon Pinto (D-Tohatchi) and Antionette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Albuquerque) co-sponsored the bill. 'Far too many of us have lost a loved one to alcohol,' Ferrary said in a statement. 'With this bill, we are taking an important step that is many years in the making to help improve access to treatment, reduce excessive drinking, and hopefully begin saving lives.' A fiscal analysis of the bill estimated that the proposed surtax imposition will generate $45.7 million in FY26, and that HB417 would reduce recurring general fund revenue by $24.7 million by redirecting revenue to the alcohol prevention and treatment programs.
