[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6286562,"mediaKeyId","2558165-9ffcdccc682af8fac3353357dae840f2","parentId",2558165,"title","Committee hears HB97 to stop insurers offsetting underinsured motorist benefits; bill advanced after roll call","audioSeconds",2095,"startMs",4640,"endMs",2100000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2558165-9ffcdccc682af8fac3353357dae840f2&start=4&end=2100","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2558165-9ffcdccc682af8fac3353357dae840f2/thumbnail_4640.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6286562/New-Mexico/Committee-hears-HB97-to-stop-insurers-offsetting-underinsured-motorist-benefits-bill-advanced-after-roll-call","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286562-4e9235801d0e6e867e1b01b5324446ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1777295742&Signature=SbvgxlOFgHqTExBZwKcsjV9hN9yibyU3ISFE6EbtfC2dWZ2PB2RgxOAiGpu-ossBYHR36r5YROmXHdXh6aWz9vQLZVJ~ZK5aOG2LOp67MAqWZoU-46UnHH7tmd0UyDoRi3OZypHZDh8eGJbQ7K0dAFkB2dGYlv4hL-YmaRVicE9YhBm1A~mlHmv7CmOOj7tqgDOKosOrOXiBYVFjp~7e5sfYCsnTwNNsUfXkzEzHxeh~oZJontJmkkkSnVdEkYPMbtfUSgp71rknX~rM2-0aDIhXF4hdNI3GKws6xvBK8oXHJysYmjWLo1A5j14xDHloqNsFgDKO6RB-Oo8pHTsIQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Mexico Legislature","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","Representative (sponsor) introduced House Bill 97, which would prohibit insurers from offsetting a policyholder's underinsured motorist (UIM) benefit by the at-fault driver's liability limits, and walked members through handouts showing scenarios and projected premium impacts.

The sponsor and counsel described the current practice: a motorist who carries $25,000/$50,000 UIM coverage may effectively receive nothing when an at-fault driver carries only the state minimum liability because insurers are allowed to offset the UIM by the at-fault driver's liability. The bill would remove that offset so that a policyholder's UIM coverage can make up the difference between damages and the other driver's liability limit.

Christian Myers, chief actuary at the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance (OSI), summarized data from private rate filings and third-party studies. Myers said the analysis was vehicle-based: about 90% of insured vehicles in the state already carry UIM and therefore would see no per-vehicle rate change under the bill; 7% of insured vehicles would see an estimated 16% increase on the modeled premium; and roughly 3% of insured vehicles that now carry only minimum liability would see a modeled 43% increase. Myers and the sponsor emphasized the analyses applied only to insured vehicles and do not include the estimated 24.9% of vehicles that experts estimate currently have no insurance.

Committee members asked whether the bill would mandate purchase of UIM for every vehicle, whether insurers would compete to lower prices, and whether the state has the enforcement tools to ensure the uninsured obtain coverage. Members also pressed OSI for the basis of the vehicle-level statistics and how households with multiple vehicles would be affected. Myers said the office's data came from rate filings and the Insurance Information Institute's periodic uninsured motorist studies; he acknowledged limits in the data, particularly household-level stacking details.

Several members, including Representative Armstrong and Representative Dow, said they supported fixing the offset but opposed a mandate requiring every vehicle to carry UIM; they warned the premium increase for low-income or liability-only drivers could prompt some to drop insurance and increase the uninsured rate. Others said removing the offset is necessary so insured drivers receive the coverage they paid for. The sponsor said she was willing to continue discussions about removing the offset and potential amendments to the mandate.

At the close of the hearing members moved the bill. The committee took a recorded roll call; after votes and an explanation from Representative Lundstrom the sponsor said she would pursue amendments going forward. The transcript shows multiple recorded yes and no votes during the roll calls; members who spoke during debate noted the bill's focus is twofold: (1) end offsets, and (2) add a vehicle-level mandate under current draft language.

No changes to statutory citations were introduced on the record; testimony repeatedly referenced the state's minimum liability levels of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident as the baseline used in the bill's examples. The record did not include a final enacted-text amendment or a court or statutory citation beyond the numeric coverage examples.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation and Public Works Mar 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative (sponsor) introduced House Bill 97, which would prohibit insurers from offsetting a policyholder's underinsured motorist (UIM) benefit by the at-fault driver's liability limits, and walked members through handouts showing scenarios and projected premium impacts.","taxTitle","House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",29060,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6286554,"Committee clears SB73 to allow cyclists to treat some stops as yields after safety testimony; members urge public education",434,6160180,6594840,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2558165-9ffcdccc682af8fac3353357dae840f2&start=6160&end=6594","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2558165-9ffcdccc682af8fac3353357dae840f2/thumbnail_6160180.jpg","/articles/6286554/New-Mexico/Committee-clears-SB73-to-allow-cyclists-to-treat-some-stops-as-yields-after-safety-testimony-members-urge-public-education","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286554-643ed1d6fdeebb3cd67bdd4e7fbbaf39/orig.mp4?Expires=1777295742&Signature=O0MoC5b1krTNwA8YPC3DUALXySDnyREPdEAT5QwfwYgr7TbUVTqSi-VJdUK7oxSepOzvT73iGH0j2AXLG3CcjfB2CzhGsZX1-SFsbIUGsrS7ryFDGN-BiKQYZZzZCstK6cBddCNUYQqVirEvX8mqgB5aKmQLgyz7p8fMZRwYeOHtjr~kfV5gQ5iRz6LGsXKvwmYy4QtH~lTl~wGp8PUK-qe81nbFSeiO2ehxVL01gmedhQnz9yZ0woq-WfbWtOuKVO-yJNwnSSp4hoS-nD0AdRbhyRx0qCdhKlQgfd--DpCgHVWYoTqzy-P4YWqhAlklOH0b1urw4VrJCtXzIt4thg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sponsor introduced Senate Bill 73 to allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs when no conflicting pedestrian, bicycle or vehicle traffic exists and to treat red lights as stop signs after making a complete stop (commonly called the \u001cIdaho stop\u001d in other states). Sponsors and expert witnesses said states that adopted similar laws have seen reductions in bicycle fatalities at intersections.

Expert witnesses included former Judge Lynn Pickard and Eric Biederman (representing an alliance of bicycle advocacy groups). Several cyclists and local bicycle-advocacy representatives testified in favor, including Jim Wilcox (Mesilla Valley MPO bicycle-pedestrian advisory committee) and Oren Pope (graduate student and cyclist), who described intersection collisions and why allowing cyclists to clear intersections when safe reduces exposure to right-hook and turn-related crashes.

There was brief discussion from members about the need for public education if the bill passes, noting that drivers obtain licensing and testing but bicyclists do not, and committee members urged a public outreach component. Supporters noted the bill includes conditions that cyclists must only proceed when no conflicting traffic exists and must yield appropriate right-of-way.

Members moved the measure; a roll call was taken and the transcript shows recorded yes votes and several members offering brief remarks. Representative comments emphasized education and enforcement questions. The chair adjourned the hearing after the vote.","Sponsor introduced SB73 to allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yields and, after a complete stop, treat red lights as stop signs when no conflicting traffic is present.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6286559,"House hearing on HB588 would expand public-works apprenticeship contributions; industry voices split",791,2880360,3672000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2558165-9ffcdccc682af8fac3353357dae840f2&start=2880&end=3672","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2558165-9ffcdccc682af8fac3353357dae840f2/thumbnail_2880360.jpg","/articles/6286559/New-Mexico/House-hearing-on-HB588-would-expand-public-works-apprenticeship-contributions-industry-voices-split","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286559-cd52e3c577772c78e40295704464983b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777295742&Signature=VjzO323cPdJa2WIUlqF29N2BtLDPHuBwUZ9EDD5avV7WUJjYSCc~c8jLgsUhT6CzBXi5COgQvVHspKGOovdSTm10LOgjEyTKiQQhp50ZS~Ie4w1~woQjif1DRYPdmWx-PwvdBcaCvq8dgVZOAuTDRVbpjHcMEKNM97apOZ7oy6mxc~XrvvqZF7o8xViz2m8LOmLouFyCHUoOt6wwyycad2i9S-Gbw9H5Ftl7uw--eGrYIWUylwIJmPAgrtMGw0KA28w5KgdJ64LDuFzf0QLW9Ep8LsztKa5vIZpwn7f0QWVF2zcy~OXfSaHo30y9I2M2-33vRa3QjpLChiNAzHsOVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Garrett introduced House Bill 588, which would amend the Public Works Apprentice and Training Act to remove an exemption that currently excludes many street, highway, bridge, road, utility and maintenance contracts from the requirement that public-works contractors either (1) have a registered apprenticeship program, (2) pay contributions to an established apprenticeship fund, or (3) contribute to an existing apprenticeship program.

Secretary Sarita Nair (Department of Workforce Solutions) and Matthew Suarez of the Western States Carpenters described the state's expanded focus on registered apprenticeship programs. Testimony noted growth in registered programs (from 41 to 58 programs since 2021), the PWAT fund distributions, and federal support for apprenticeships tied to infrastructure funding. The sponsor and supporters said the bill keeps public dollars local, develops a trained workforce for road projects and rural communities, and strengthens career pathways.

Multiple construction-industry representatives opposed or raised concerns. Contractors and industry associations said heavy-highway and utility contractors already run well-established, federally approved training programs (TTCP and similar programs) tailored to highway projects and that a 60¢ per-hour contribution (the rate set in current statute) applied to reported labor hours could increase costs for projects on tight, fixed-price maintenance contracts and for small specialized firms (striping, guardrail, etc.). Several witnesses said the federal TTCP and existing trainings meet inspectors' and FHWA standards, and some contractors argued the public-works apprenticeship fund is oriented toward vertical construction and may not benefit highway contractors.

Testimony referenced the fiscal information report (FIR) estimating that applying a 60¢ contribution to New Mexico DOT labor hours (1.6–1.8 million hours in recent fiscal years) would yield $983,000 to $1.1 million in annual contributions if every hour were covered. Several witnesses and committee members noted that companies with registered apprenticeship programs would not pay the 60¢ contribution because they would qualify as having their own program; that fact changes the net fiscal effect depending on how many firms convert existing in-house training to registered apprenticeship programs.

Committee members asked implementation and compliance questions: how long it takes to stand up a registered apprenticeship, whether contractors' in-house training would qualify, whether the department would withhold or stop work on noncompliant projects, and why the statutory exemption existed originally. Secretary Nair and Department of Transportation staff said apprenticeship registrations can be expedited, that in-house training can be converted to registered apprenticeship programs, and that the state typically pursues compliance through audits and follow-up rather than preemptive project halts. Several members expressed support for apprenticeships but worry about passing costs to local governments and small contractors on fixed-price projects.

No committee vote on HB588 appears in the transcript segment provided. The hearing record contains pro and con testimony and technical questions for follow-up by the Department of Workforce Solutions and DOT about compliance, fund distribution and how the exemption previously came to be.

","Representative Garrett introduced House Bill 588 to remove the statutory exemption for many road, bridge, utility and maintenance public-works contracts from the Public Works Apprentice and Training Act, requiring contractors to participate in an apprenticeship system or contribute to the PWAT fund.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears HB97 to stop insurers offsetting underinsured motorist benefits; bill advanced after roll call

Committee clears SB73 to allow cyclists to treat some stops as yields after safety testimony; members urge public education

House hearing on HB588 would expand public-works apprenticeship contributions; industry voices split