By Pat Fell, 2016 RANM President and Debbie Rogers, 2016 Legislative Committee Chair:

The 2016 New Mexico Legislative Session ended Thursday, February 18 at noon and while RANM's bills made progress, none of them will become law.

Two of the bills were poised for final approval and the third never received a committee hearing. RANM was encouraged by how far two of the three bills progressed. RANM's Legislative Committee will take all this into account in determining if they wish to continue pursuit of these bills next session.

The two bills that made it the furthest – the Home Inspector Licensing bill (HB166) sponsored by Representative Alonzo Baldonado and Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto, and the HOA Amendment bill (HB129) sponsored by Representative Monica Youngblood – had only one more legislative hurdle. In fact, HB166 was actually being heard on the Senate Floor in the final hours of the session, but Senators Lee Cotter from Dona Ana County and William Sharer from San Juan County, spoke out in vigorous opposition to the bill. As lengthy debate appeared imminent and time was running short, the floor leadership asked Senator Daniel Ivy-Soto to withdraw the bill.

The HOA Amendment bill also was on the Senate's final day agenda, but was never called for a vote.  The two bills were in the House of Representatives for 26 days and were sent to the Senate with only four days left in the session.

RANM's legislative team spent numerous hours overseeing the advancement of the bills. We want to acknowledge the RANM members that responded to the Calls for Action. It really is effective and helped move the bills through the committee process. In addition, several members testified before committees and their efforts gained us strong support and passage through the committees.

As for the Transfer Tax question (HJR16), the House Ways and Means committee chair Jason Harper added the issue to their agenda on two days before the end of the session but it was never heard and no further meetings of the committee were held.

The general tone of the session was the decrease in oil and gas revenue and any bills that had money attached to them were not going anywhere. This also played into the Transfer Tax question as many legislators seemed reluctant to take any source of revenue off the table.

In legislative action of general interest:

• Passed a $6.2 billion budget based on New Mexico's poor budget situation, the result of lower oil prices. Many bills with appropriations were not passed due to the declining revenues.
• Passed a bill that regulates Uber and Lyft (online ride-sharing transportation companies).
• Passed a Driver's License bill that complies with the REAL ID Act, the result of compromises by the Senate and House.
• Passed a tougher DWI law.
• Passed a law that provides for tougher child exploitation penalties.
• Passed a $166 million capital outlay bill.

These bills will go to the Governor's office for final approval. The deadline for her to take action is March 9.

RANM supported several other bills that the RANM Legislative Committee deemed of interest of members. The bills and their (future) included:

• HB12, Public Project Loan Authorizations, passed in both chambers.
• HB177, Solo-Worker Job Creation, passed in both chambers.
• SB72, Limit on Nuisance Claims for Farming, passed in both chambers.
• SB146, Real Property Scrivener's Error Affidavits, passed both chambers.
• HB15, Tourism Scenic Byways Program Funds, died in the House.
• HB26, Solar Market Development Tax Credit Incremental Reductions, died in the House.
• HB147, HOA Act Enforcement, died in the House.
• HB170, Implementing Broadband Expansion, died in the House.
• HB210, Revised Limitations on Annual Increase of Residential Property Valuation, died in the House.
• HM30, Action Plan to Deploy Broadband Across the State, died in the House.
• SB13, Solar Market Development Tax Credit Incremental Reductions, died in the Senate.

SB105, Expediting Issuance of Occupational and Professional Licenses was first opposed by RANM but an amendment was added to RANM's satisfaction. That bill passed in both chambers.

RANM is already gearing up for next year - Legislative Committee Terms begin April 1, 2016.  If you are interested in being a member of this committee, applications are available online and due at RANM March 1, 2016.