What's Happening in Santa Fe? New Mexico Legislative Session Update

The Second Session of the 50th New Mexico Legislature will draw to a close in the next few days and there are still a number of employment law related bills to be considered:

• SB32: Temporary Unemployment Fund Contributions
  • Employer contributions to the fund would be set at Schedule 1 through 12/31/2012, increasing to Schedule 2 through 12/31/2012. The bill provides for executive review and adjustment of the rate to a Schedule 3 in the event that the fund falls below 30% of the total amount of benefits paid out in 2011.
  • PASSED the Senate
  • Currently before the House Labor and Human Resources Committee
• HB194: Unemployment Compensation Fund Contributions
  • Employer contributions to the fund would be set at Schedule 2. The bill would also create a legislatively appointed bi-partisan 9 person advisory committee to make recommendations regarding changes to the Schedule.
  • Currently before the House Judiciary Committee
• HJR28: Minimum Wage Increase
  • Creates a Constitutional Amendment establishing that the New Mexico Minimum Wage be adjusted annually based upon the U.S. Department of Labor Consumer Price Index.
  • Given a DO PASS by the House Labor and Human Resources Committee and the House Voters and Elections Committee.
  • Up for vote TODAY in the House. If it passes in the House, the next step is passage in the Senate and then onto the ballot in the next general election.
• HB10 & HB 154: House Substitution: Veteran Employment Tax Credit
  • $1,000 tax credit per veteran hired within 2 years of receipt of honorable discharge. Employers may receive partial year-prorated amount for partial year employment. Under the bill full-time employment is defined as 40 hours per week.
  • Currently before the House Taxation and Revenue Committee
• SB16: House Substitution: State Graduate Employment Tax Credit
  • $5000 tax credit for hiring a qualified New Mexico graduate on a full-time basis.
  • Currently before the House Taxation and Revenue Committee
• HB8: Development and Training Programs
  • ​$10 million appropriation for in-plant training for new or expanding New Mexico businesses
  • House Business and Industry Committee gave it a DO PASS
  • Currently before the House Appropriations and Finance Committee
• SB6 & SB278: NM Health Insurance Exchange Act
  • Both bills establish a framework for a Health Care Exchange as required under Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) by 2014.
  • Neither bill has any traction - both are currently in the Senate Committees Committee
• SB30: State Agency Sunshine Portal Requirement
  • ​As currently amended it would require all private sector business who do businesses with the state to disclose all employee wage information for public inspection via the sunshine portal.
  • PASSED the Senate.
  • Currently before the House Labor and Human Resources Committee

Legislation can move very rapidly in the New Mexico Legislature! For updates on these and other pieces or proposed legislation, follow us on twitter at @nmlawborlaw.