The WORST things that passed this session

*HB 12: Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Changes – Expands New Mexico’s “red flag” law to allow expanded taking of guns absent due process.

HB 14: Earned Income Tax Credit – Raises taxes on alcohol sales by 20%. Provides “refundable” (meaning it is spending) tax credit for low income New Mexicans.

HB 6: IRB Project Minimum Wage – Requires companies hired for projects funded by Municipal and County Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) to adhere to New Mexico’s prevailing wage law for public works projects.

HB 91: Public Utility Rate Structure – Allows public utilities in the state to implement rate structures intended to reduce utility costs for low-income customers.

HB 69: Loan Forgiveness Multiplier Act – Expands access to the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program within New Mexico, which forgives student loans for individuals who work full-time in public service in federal, state, tribal, or local government for 10 years.

HB 71: Early Childhood Ed & Care Fund Transfers – Further expands annual distribution from the Early Childhood Trust Fund to fund childcare assistance, pre-K programs, and maternal health initiatives.

*SB 1: Behavioral Health Trust Fund – Creates a billion dollar trust fund for behavioral healthcare initiatives across the state.

HB 586 – Creates a process that allows the secretary of the Health Care Authority (HCA) to review proposed transactions (e.g., acquisitions, mergers) that materially change the control of a New Mexico healthcare entity.

SB 267: Housing Application Fees – Increases regulations on housing rental. Caps application and late fees and requiring more notice for increasing fees.

SB 23: Oil & Gas Royalty Rate Changes – Tax increase on oil and gas on state lands.

SB 48: Community Benefit Fund – Uses tax dollars to provide grants to local communities for so-called clean energy projects.

HB 128: Creates the Local Solar Access Fund within the New Mexico Finance Authority to provide grants for solar energy systems to eligible entities,

HB 64: Expand Post-Secondary Tuition Eligibility – provides in-state tuition and access to financial aid to students, regardless of immigration status, who attended high school in New Mexico for at least one year and either graduated from a New Mexico high school or received a high school equivalency.

HB 450: Capital Outlay bill which includes

$10 million for ANOTHER abortion clinic, $10 million for construction of a film school at CNM to support the already heavily-subsidized film industry; $4 million for runway and infrastructure improvements at the failing (taxpayer-funded) Spaceport; $1.5 million for “alternative fuel/charging stations” for the new EV school bus fleet.

All of these votes are rated at our Freedom Index which tracks votes and bills in Santa Fe. Did we miss anything? If so, send us a note: info@riograndefoundation.org