Health Care Legislation

Monday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee substitute for HB 62, the Health Solutions Act, was heard by the Senate Public Affairs Committee with two minor amendments with which we are very comfortable. The amendment to strike employer contributions to the Healthy Workforce Fund, which we requested the Governor's office to support, was not affected. The bill passed out of Senate Public Finance on a vote of five to three and is scheduled to go next to the Senate Finance Committee.

At this time we are waiting to see if the Health Solutions Act will go to Senate Finance or be brought directly to the Senate floor for debate and a vote.

Yesterday, SB 3, the Health Security Act, which is the single payer bill opposed by the Chamber throughout the session, was tabled in Senate Corporations which means that both single payer bills are essentially dead.  

House Approves UNM Hospital Funding Bill

A tax bill supported by the Chamber because it would provide funding stability for UNM Hospital was approved by the House. HB 623, introduced by Rep. Dan Silva, would remove the June 30, 2009 sunset on Bernalillo County’s authority to impose an additional one-sixteenth (0.0625 percent) county health care gross receipts tax increment above the basic one-sixteenth available to all counties. HB 623 passed the House on a 34 to 4 vote and was reported out Do Pass by the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee. It will next be heard by the Senate Finance Committee.  

Another bill that would have the same effect, HB 409, is sponsored by Rep. Bill Rehm. HB 409 would raise the gross receipts tax by 0.15625 percent to support UNM Hospital. HB 409 was reported Do Pass as amended by the House Health and Government Affairs. It was also referred to the House Appropriations and Finance, and House Taxation and Revenue committees.

Senate and House Approve Establishment of State Ethics Commission

SB 437, sponsored by Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort, which would create a state ethics commission, was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 39 to 0. A companion bill, HB 309, introduced by Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, was approved by the House on a vote of 66 to 0, after receiving a Do Pass recommendation as amended by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee earlier in the day. The Chamber supports establishment of a state ethics commission because it will promote increased accountability for ethical behavior among state officials and employees, lobbyists and those that conduct business with the state. 

Research Bill Receives Committee Approval 

Today, HB 262, which was passed by the House, was reported out Do Pass as amended by the the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee. HB 262, sponsored by Rep. John Heaton, would authorize a Research Applications Center to foster economic development in the area of intellectual property to attract investments and high-value technology jobs in New Mexico.

Senate To Consider Energy Efficiency Legislation

HB 305, sponsored by Speaker Ben Lujan, was passed by the House and is scheduled to be discussed by the Senate. The Chamber supports this legislation because it will promote energy efficiency programs which promise to lower utility bills for customers and provide the state’s electric utilities with a less expensive and environmentally sustainable resource option to meet the growing demand for electricity.  

DWI Legislation Scheduled for Senate Vote

HB 100, introduced by Rep. Ken Martinez, was passed by the House and was approved with a Do Pass recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee. It is now scheduled to be discussed by the full Senate. HB 100 would toughen penalties for DWI offenders who drive vehicles without an ignition interlock or if they have tampered with it.