[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6286528,"mediaKeyId","2558307-a8363ceb7ea1a8032911c28df1261161","parentId",2558307,"title","Senate honors Santa Fe Opera, advances compacts and bills on organ donation, theaters, transit and insurance; memorials set study groups","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",10059000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2558307-a8363ceb7ea1a8032911c28df1261161&start=10059&end=10059","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2558307-a8363ceb7ea1a8032911c28df1261161/thumbnail_10059000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6286528/New-Mexico/Senate-honors-Santa-Fe-Opera-advances-compacts-and-bills-on-organ-donation-theaters-transit-and-insurance-memorials-set-study-groups","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286528-a0ba9a6065f42c6e9bdd3137c8c7b45c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775250700&Signature=eMM~CyMNTqa~2OMNmVaW1M1ZraHPiKigMSkeywGxEgqjrrx09bRffPTMSydb~8z3Yfq3w5RcnQOLu-Kq6vS42THamjxyi~hV51Yk1mp~WL-f~~mHz2xFXwWatxkG5llTiT86AZMAsfFkCaYYk0zJtscQZJvvp1Gcds4ttMluT9n6m1PK5KFBxD1ZLXzct3uj6LMuv6ng7-bW6AQlzulPaDzvv2BqV~w4mT~Oo9curkY0dteki0r2BIaZQSKiAUUO2e7m~9tY4j44~jiNhY4dkz7zwC1UOo2Hj8YdhTvmHUkRQozW3hc6FxgJqHSycz2KPYbXcQN-bS6fjgHfA0iwBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Mexico Legislature","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","The New Mexico Senate on March 11 combined ceremonial recognitions with a series of final-action votes and memorials. Lawmakers read proclamations honoring the Santa Fe Opera and a day recognizing students with ability, talent and potential; the chamber also approved multiple bills and interim-study memorials.

Why it matters: The session mixed ceremonial acknowledgements and policy actions that affect areas from professional licensing to consumer insurance protections and local food procurement for schools. Several measures passed with little debate; a few drew discussion but were approved. The body also adopted memorials asking state agencies to plan wildfire mitigation work and to explore boosting procurement of locally produced food for school meals.

Ceremonial recognitions and visitors: The Senate read and adopted a certificate declaring March 11, 2025, as Santa Fe Opera Day and spotlighted an 18-year-old local singer from the Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera who performed the national anthem. Senator Peter Wirth introduced the opera delegation and said of the singer, \"Quite a young man with a tremendous voice.\" The chamber also read a certificate recognizing Ability, Talent and Potential in All Schools Day and invited student representatives and educators to the rostrum.

Announcements and stories: During announcements Senator Gallegos and Senator Sanchez highlighted New Mexicos baby-box program. Sanchez described a case in which a baby deposited in a safe-haven box at a fire department was later adopted by the firefighters who retrieved the child; Gallegos said the adoption was finalized and urged continuation and expansion of funding for the program.

Bills and votes at a glance:
- Senate Bill 213 (vehicle code; yield to transit buses): The Senate took final action on SB213, which amends the motor vehicle code to require drivers to yield to a transit bus when an illuminated yield sign is displayed; the transcript records the measure passed on final action (announced as 38 affirmative, 0 negative). Sponsor: Senator Roberto Gonzalez.
- Senate Finance Committee substitute for Senate Bill 376 (state health premiums): Covered in a separate detailed article due to extended debate; passed 36-2 (see separate coverage).
- Senate Judiciary Committee substitute for Senate Bill 105 (social work licensure compact): The Senate approved enabling language to join the social work interstate compact; the chamber adopted sponsor amendments removing language the committee found unsuitable for New Mexico law and passed the bill on final action (recorded as 36-0 on the floor). Sponsor: Senator Sadia Trujillo (cosponsor Sadia Lopez read remarks).
- Senate Tax, Business & Transportation substitute for Senate Bill 118 (organ donation registry): The MVD will work with other state entities to collect organ-donor designations and store them in a state database; Senate passage was recorded as 37-0. Sponsor: Senator Liz Stefanik.
- Senate Judiciary Committee substitute for Senate Bill 159 (independent-theater alcohol license): The Senate adopted a floor amendment limiting the license to independent New Mexico-owned theaters and capping servings (two 12-ounce beers or two 6-ounce wine servings per customer). The bill passed on final action, recorded 37-0. Sponsor: Senator Roberto Jaramillo; Senate floor amendment by Senator William Scherer.
- Senate Bill 221 (insurance claim practices): The Senate passed legislation clarifying unfair insurer practices and protecting policyholders after disaster denials complicated FEMA claims; the vote was recorded as 37-0. Sponsor: Senator Ramos.

Memorials and interim work: The chamber passed Senate Memorial 2 (a wildfire study group) that asks state agencies and stakeholders to form an interim group to study wildfire mitigation and utility mitigation plans. The memorial was amended on the floor to add a representative from a state-based property-insurance carrier trade association and passed. Senate Memorial 14 reaffirming protection of Mount Taylor and opposing certain uranium projects passed after debate (21-14). Senate Memorial 19 asked agencies to develop a plan to increase the percentage of beef, cheese and milk served in public schools that originate and are processed in New Mexico; the sponsor said the item is intended to spur a study group rather than impose an immediate mandate.

Process notes: Several committee reports were read and adopted en bloc. The Senate also handled introductions of multiple house bills, committee scheduling and routine procedural unanimous-consent requests. The session included extended floor questioning and multiple expert witnesses brought to the chamber for technical questions on specific measures.

Whats next: Bills that passed on final action now move to the House (or return to the House as required) or to executive review as part of the standard legislative process; memorials direct state agencies to form study groups during the interim. Lawmakers signaled immediate follow-up work on implementation details for funding, actuarial reports and interagency coordination where bills asked agencies to develop further programs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Chamber Mar 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 11 session the New Mexico Senate adopted ceremonial certificates recognizing the Santa Fe Opera and student programs, approved several bills on compacts, organ donation and consumer protections, and passed memorials calling for wildfire and local-procurement study groups.","taxTitle","Senate, Committees, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",29062,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6286533,"Senate approves 80/20 split for state employee health premiums after heated debate",3805,2664000,6469000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2558307-a8363ceb7ea1a8032911c28df1261161&start=2664&end=6469","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2558307-a8363ceb7ea1a8032911c28df1261161/thumbnail_2664000.jpg","/articles/6286533/New-Mexico/Senate-approves-8020-split-for-state-employee-health-premiums-after-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286533-7390ff6ea6e9d55366c1a6e130dca286/orig.mp4?Expires=1775250700&Signature=HgFdz1BUqeV1PggXLi-Gqz8anFrK~732iCQx-lUrX8PsQ9KwJjzYx1ajheF1N0jzL3rjZ80kxPZBbg9DCAWEn~MIUIXM82qghPRNkTkOgZgYLA8sUMvk6ILRaYi4x6gRWpIbkHyyIM2H9gXBBMDLk-dkcCuU3QHmFpY5IvINEmbayCORaKMHgrm8pD4mSluhxOgQ~rK~BWPJYv6iYN30aC4ko3x2m49ICMXsb0fozB1XyUAtlJXJNVEyEPiuuexI~PiaYMcv285oANMkJd9~CJBmpr-~KQhMxhFmiCVj8FzwSewSFVVnGvi2YpHq42CvNiFwf5Q3Rrp14JMqGA12Hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Mexico Senate on March 11 passed the Senate Finance Committee substitute for Senate Bill 376, approving an employer-employee cost split that would set most state employee health insurance premiums at 80% paid by the state and 20% by employees. The final recorded vote on the floor was 36 in favor, 2 opposed.

Supporters said the measure will stabilize a state health plan that they described as actuarially unstable and reduce the states long-term liabilities. Sponsor Senator Liz Stefanik said the change would cost the state $68,000,000 in the near term but \"would save the general fund $19,000,000 in '26 and a hundred and 55,000,000 over the next 5 years.\" She told the chamber the Health Care Affordability Fund would be used to pay down part of the premiums and that the fund receives payments from insurers.

Opponents and questioners pressed the sponsors on distributional effects and fiscal mechanics. Senator Brandt asked whether the change would disproportionately benefit higher-paid employees; \"won't this actually benefit the most our highest paid employees, not the lowest?\" he asked on the floor. Senator Carrie Munoz and an expert witness who appeared in the chamber said the bill was designed to reset actuarial assumptions and to require an annual actuarial report to the Legislature. Munoz said insurance companies contributions currently populate the Healthcare Affordability Fund and that local governments have been effectively subsidized in prior years when premiums were not adjusted.

Floor debate also focused on practical consequences for hospitals and local governments. Senators asked how hospitals would be reimbursed when insured patients use inpatient services under the new framework; Stefanik said the bill establishes patient protections and a hospital pricing structure. Senator Munoz, citing his expert, told the chamber that \"the hospitals will be paid 200% of the Medicare rate, according to my expert.\" Other senators pointed to the risk that hospitals could absorb the difference between negotiated payments and their billed charges, and to broader questions about whether the states long-term budgeting and city/county obligations were being properly aligned.

The bill explicitly covers state executive, legislative and judicial employees; local public bodies may set their own contribution ratios. Several senators, including Senator Linda Trujillo and Senator Mimi Stewart, expressed concern that education employees were not included in the immediate 80/20 change and said they expected separate negotiations or follow-up legislation. Sponsors said the Health Care Authority will be required to develop targeted programs for lower-income employees in future sessions.

The bill passed on a recorded roll call. Two senators registered opposition on the floor. The Senate substituted the Finance Committee language and approved final passage by the recorded count of 36-2.","The New Mexico Senate passed the Senate Finance Committee substitute for Senate Bill 376, moving state employee premiums to an 80% state / 20% employee split and directing use of the Health Care Affordability Fund; supporters said it will stabilize premiums while opponents warned of costs to local governments, educators and hospitals.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate honors Santa Fe Opera, advances compacts and bills on organ donation, theaters, transit and insurance; memorials set study groups

Senate approves 80/20 split for state employee health premiums after heated debate