HB98: Accounts for Disabled Eligibility (02/09/2024, Y:63, N:0, Yes)
Current law allows tax-free savings accounts under Internal Revenue Code Section 529A
to be set up for eligible persons. This expands the list of eligibles based on blindness or
disability to those whose blindness or disability occurs before the age of 46 (currently
26). Also, forbids, unless required by federal law, the state from seeking payment from
the account, or from an estate, benefits provided to the beneficiary under Section 529A;
current law requires repayment from the estate.
HB253/a: Capital Outlay Changes (02/09/2024, Y:63, N:0, Yes)
Requires preparation of two different estimates for severance tax bonding capacity and
the selection of the lower. Creates the Capital Development and Reserve Fund and the
Capital Development Program Fund, gives priority to Capital Development Program
projects.
HB148/ec: Water Project Fund Projects (02/09/2024, Y:64, N:0, Yes)
Authorizes the NMFA to make loans or grants from the water project fund to qualifying
water projects on terms and conditions established by the water trust board and the
NMFA. Lists 55 projects for which the NMFA is authorized to make loans or grants from
the Water Project Fund.
HB232/a: Infrastructure Planning and Development Division (02/09/2024, Y:65, N:0, Yes)
House Bill 232 creates the Infrastructure Planning and Development Division (IPDD)
within the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) and moves certain
infrastructure and capital related functions of the Local Government Division (LGD) to
IPDD. The rural equity ombudsman and local government infrastructure capital
improvement plan functions of LGD would move to the new division along with other
short- or long-term programs and funds of other divisions of DFA as determined by the
Secretary. Additionally, the bill assigns IPDD the duties of providing assistance to local
governments, councils of governments, and tribal governments in identifying and
accessing funding for infrastructure development from available sources and
administering funding to complete capital projects and of providing guidance on project
plans and development. This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result,
would go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns, or May 15, 2024, if enacted.
HB196/cs: Government Accountability Trust & Fund (02/09/2024, Y:39, N:28, No)
This really should be titled “The Governor’s Slush Fund”!
This legislation creates a new government accountability expendable trust for the
purpose of funding pilot programs across state agencies. The bill establishes the process
for appropriation requests of new pilot programs to be funded from the newly created
trust. In its original form this legislation would create reporting and evaluation
requirements that will be conducted by the Legislative Finance Committee staff. It
presumes that, if after the three-year pilot a positive evaluation would allow for
continued funding.
Sounds like a great idea! Unfortunately, the House Appropriations Committee Substitute
deleted all the requirements for oversight and guardrails (aka – performance metrics).
The 16 projects listed within this year’s list total over $216M in expenditures to seven
departments which have failed and continue failing in several areas of their agreed upon
Accountability Performance Metrics. It appears only in New Mexico Government do we
reward departments that are failing in their current responsibilities by giving them more
money and more responsibility!
All of these 16 projects come from the Governor’s office for departments that report
directly to her. Beyond this piece of legislation there are no bills submitted by 112
legislators to support the pilot project descriptions. Once again the governor’s office is
not only playing the role of the executive but also the role of the legislature.
HB141/a: Supreme Court Justice Salary Increase (02/09/2024, Y:52, N:0, Yes)
Mandates that justices of the state Supreme Court receive an annual salary of $232,600
beginning July 1, 2024. Removes formulas in statute setting magistrates’ salaries at a
percentage of other judges’ salaries.