Sandoval County Commissioners react to legislative session

The 2023 legislative session came to end March 18, and the Sandoval County Commissioners had plenty to say about what bills passed, what bills failed and what the 60-day session means for Sandoval County.

District 1 Commissioner Katherine Bruch

“The just-completed 2023 Legislative session produced many bills that will be beneficial to New Mexico residents.

The budget provides many resources to residents while lowering tax rates. And the capital outlay bill (HB 505) infuses money to Sandoval County and many of the public entities within the county.

Other legislation that I supported and was passed includes: bills protecting voter rights (HB 4 and SB 180), which significantly revise and amend the current statutes to ensure that our elections are accessible and secure. In addition, I am pleased that HB 207 passed, which extends the scope of the Human Rights Act to include gender.

While I understand the need to fix certain aspects of the Gross Receipts Tax, I am glad that HB 547 did not pass. This would have had a detrimental effect on municipalities and counties by lowering the amount of GRT that they would receive. I believe that the state should work to fix the ‘pyramiding’ issue where GRT is collected multiple times for the sale of the same service or product, but I support a phasing process so that counties and municipalities are not hit hard all at once with lost revenue.

I was disappointed that SB 301 was not passed in the House. This bill would have given us the tools to better manage free-roaming horses in New Mexico. Free-roaming horses have been an issue for many years, and we need to be able to better manage their care while ensuring the safety of drivers.”

District 2 Commissioner Jay Block

“I’m very happy that they came back and fixed the medical malpractice cap, because the ridiculous bill that Democrats put forward would have pushed out independent providers. So I’m glad that was fixed where the Democrats came over and agreed with the Republicans.

I was glad to see a bunch of anti-gun bills tabled for the most part, but I was very disappointed in every bill put forward by Republicans to hold criminals accountable, they were tabled by Democrats and that right there just shows that the Democrats care more about coddling criminals than protecting the public.

There were tax increases involved when we have record oil and gas revenues. We increased government spending way too much this session.

So overall, I would give the session a C minus. A lot of the bad bills that went through and thankfully, some were stopped. And I want to thank those Democrats for stopping a lot of those Democrat-sponsored bad bills when they joined the Republicans.

Even just a few of the Democrats saw how crazy and awful these bills were being pushed out by the governor herself. So we were able to push back a little bit with some normal Democrats, and that was very helpful to the people of New Mexico.”

Block has been a vocal opponent of House Bill 7, the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act, which prohibits public bodies, including local municipalities, from denying, restricting or discriminating against an individual’s right to use or refuse reproductive health care or health care related to gender.

Block spoke about HB 7 at the Feb. 22 commission meeting after the bill passed in the House. Block was also present in the Roundhouse when the bill was debated.

“I’m disgusted. I mean, now parents no longer have control over their children’s health care, their children’s decisions. This governor has made the state mom and dad and has basically blocked the parents from any notification or approval for these mutilating procedures of taking the breasts off young girls without parental notification, abortions without parental notification. In the state of New Mexico, if you’re under 18 you have to have your mom and dad’s permission to get a tattoo but not to get an abortion, not to get puberty blockers and not to be mutilated. And it forces providers to provide that treatment when they’re so conscientious objector status allowed in regards to the provider’s moral compass on the issue.”

District 3 Commissioner Michael Meek

“I was disappointed that there was no substantial crime bill passed. Nothing was done to address the CYFD problems. There were no tax bills to counter the pyramiding of taxes on small businesses and there was no movement on voter ID. I was pleased with the passing of SB 280 Cyber Bill and free school meals for K-12 students.”

District 4 Commissioner and Chair Dave Heil

“Legislation that passed that will help the people of Sandoval County:

HB 8 Creative Industries Division in the Economic Development Department opens up the potential for the expansion of businesses related to the arts and entertainment.

HB 160 Installation of Broadband along rights of way can help move broadband into unserved areas of the county. The State Transportation Commission can waive fees or leasing costs for infrastructure used primarily for broadband and grants the State Transportation Commission authority for such installation along, across, over or under public highways.

Also Senate Bill 452 authorizes the lease or sale of broadband infrastructure and the provision of cybersecurity information technology and telecommunication network services. SB 452 provides for administrative hearings and clarifies the bases for some service rates and amends sections of the Broadband Access and Expansion Act and requires reporting by some internet service providers. It establishes conditions for lease of the state-owned broadband network to help make broadband more available across the county.

House Bill 232 amends the Inspection of Public Records Act to exempt from disclosure information that could be used to compromise infrastructure or information technology systems. This reduces security risks for infrastructure and computer systems and networks.

House Bill 365 creates the Geothermal Projects Development Fund and the Geothermal Projects Revolving Loan Fund. It authorizes grants and loans from these respective funds and appropriates $26.1 million in total to expand the use of geothermal energy.

With cybersecurity a growing concern, Senate Bill 280 enacts the Cybersecurity Act and creates the Cybersecurity Office along with its duties and powers. It creates the position of state information security officer and provides duties and establishes qualifications. It creates the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee and provides exemptions to the Open Meetings Act and Inspection of Public Records Act as there are some things that should not be exposed that would further risk computer systems and networks.

Senate Bill 474 amends the Industrial Revenue Bond Act and the County Industrial Revenue Bond Act regarding how certain payment-in-lieu-of-taxes payments are shared among school districts so as to improve distribution of funds to school districts.

Some of biggest disappoints were crime-related legislation that did not pass, including:

House Bill 55 relates to criminal law and creates the crime of organized retail crime, with penalties ranging from a petty misdemeanor to a second-degree felony, depending on the amount of merchandised affected.

House Bill 57 relates to torts and provides immunity from liability for tort claims pertaining to damages or injuries relating to apprehending a shoplifter.

House Bill 58 relates to criminal sentencing and provides additional violent felonies in the Criminal Sentencing Act for the purpose of life imprisonment for three violent felony convictions, provides that certain crimes committed by juveniles constitute violent felonies, and does not allow for parole for those serving such a life sentence, with exceptions.

House Bill 59 relates to criminal law and creates the third-degree felony crime of unlawful carrying of a firearm while trafficking a controlled substance.

House Bill 60 relates to criminal sentencing and requires an enhanced sentence for possession of fentanyl, which is killing thousands of New Mexicans every year.

House Bill 239 would have prohibited animal shelters from euthanizing or causing or soliciting the euthanasia of animals it shelters or temporarily houses. It creates a website to search for missing pets and an initiative to help counties secure funding for low- or no-cost spay and neuter programs. HB 239 appropriates $3.1 million dollars.

Senate Bill 301 that would have allowed fertility control, relocation and adoption of free-roaming horses under certain circumstances. Requires the New Mexico Livestock Board to approve the qualifications of a free-roaming horse expert and allows the board to make rules regarding the approval of the qualifications of a free-roaming horse expert. SB 301 prohibits the slaughter or export for slaughter of free-roaming horses. The passage of this bill would have helped resolve the overpopulation of horses in the Placitas area.

Lack of funding for the Judicial Complex. With Sandoval County being the fastest growing county in the state and our Judicial Complex with five judges and only three courtrooms, the Judicial Complex is in dire need of expansion. We were hoping that with all the Oil and Gas funds that we might have seen some significant support from the Legislature.”

District 5 Commissioner Joshua Jones

Jones not reply to an email asking for his reaction to the 2023 legislative session.