Senate committee advances broad consent calendar, clears measures on telecommunications, housing and consumer protections

The New Mexico Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee on Thursday, March 13, approved a long consent calendar of House bills and moved several debated measures to the next steps in the legislative process, including proposals affecting telecommunications funding for relay services, protections against financial exploitation of vulnerable adults, changes to burial/cremation definitions, and measures addressing ticket resale, film-industry licensing, utility programs for low-income customers, and source-of-income housing discrimination.

The committee chair opened the meeting by explaining the committee’s consent calendar procedure, noting many of the consent items were House bills that committee leaders and staff had identified as having no recorded opposition. Under that process, bills removed from consent are rescheduled to allow sponsors time to gather witnesses and public testimony.

The consent calendar included more than a dozen House bills. Committee members recorded unanimous support (8–0) on those items, which were forwarded to the next assigned committees or to the Senate floor as noted below.

The committee also held fuller hearings and votes on a set of bills that drew public testimony and debate. Most of those measures received due-pass recommendations and will advance to subsequent Senate committees.

Key details, public testimony and committee actions

Telecommunications relay surcharge (Senate Bill 372) Sen. Sedillo Lopez, sponsor, said the New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons faces a funding shortfall because the current telecommunications relay service (TRS) surcharge is a percentage of consumers’ bills and has declined as bills were bundled and retail prices fell. The bill would replace the percentage with a flat 51¢ per line per month charge to stabilize revenue. Norman Gohme, director of the Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons, described falling revenues since FY2011 and program cutbacks. Ellen Pines of the Disability Coalition and John Cooper, chairman of the commission, urged support; Jim Jackson of Disability Rights New Mexico and Jason Tiones of the New Mexico Exchange Carrier Group also testified in support. Jake Lestock of CTIA testified in opposition, cautioning about cumulative increases to wireless customers and saying the proposed rate would be higher than most states’ TRS fees. The committee voted a due pass on a motion (7–1). The committee recording shows a roll-call pattern with one member opposing the do-pass motion; the bill now goes to Senate Finance.

Protecting vulnerable adults from financial exploitation (Senate Bill 419) Sen. Jaramillo described SB419 as an amendment to the existing Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act (NMSA 19-78). The bill would allow broker-dealers and investment advisers to extend a temporary delay on disbursements for additional days (up to a statutory limit) when certain findings are made to help state or local protective agencies investigate suspected exploitation. Witnesses including Craig Hay (Aging and Long-Term Services Department), Jim Jackson (Disability Rights New Mexico) and others testified that the change would give adult protective services more time and information to complete investigations. The committee recorded a do pass (9–0); the bill now goes forward for further consideration.

Expansion of burial/cremation definitions (no. not specified in committee packet) Sen. Cepantes (sponsor) asked the committee to update the statutory definition of cremation to include emerging nontraditional processes such as alkaline hydrolysis (often called “water cremation”) and natural organic reduction (also called “natural organic reduction” or NOR). Supporters including environmental- and soil-focused groups, as well as representatives of firms that offer the services in other states, testified about lower energy use and additional options for families. Opponents and some senators raised questions about costs, regulatory oversight, what remains are returned to families, and wastewater disposal; witnesses described the process, retention of a small mineral residue returned to families, and that the liquid effluent is treated and discharged consistent with sanitation rules. The committee recorded a due pass on ordinary motion (4–3); the bill will proceed to the next committee.

Film industry exemption to Barbers and Cosmetology Act (Senate Bill 127, as amended) Sen. Trujillo introduced an amendment to exempt theatrical and cinematic makeup artists and hairstylists working on productions (including military productions) from certain licensure requirements in the Barbers and Cosmetology Act. Steve Graham, director of the New Mexico Film Office, testified that New Mexico’s industry routinely relies on local and visiting hair and makeup professionals and that enforcing standard cosmetology licensing would disrupt productions and local employment. The committee adopted a technical amendment expanding the language to cover theatrical and cinematic productions and added the U.S. armed services to the listed exceptions; it then recorded a due pass (8–0).

Ticket resale at state or nonprofit events (House Bill 26) Rep. Kates and Sen. [sponsor present] presented HB26 to expand the state criminal statute that currently targets scalping at college sporting events to include ticket resale for state, political subdivision and nonprofit-presented events. Supporters — including executives and advocates from performing arts organizations — said deceptive third-party sites and resellers are driving up prices for subsidized cultural events and harming both attendance and local arts organizations’ missions. Industry platforms (StubHub, Vivid Seats, others) and the Sports Fans Coalition testified in opposition, saying criminalization would drive consumers to unregulated channels and could harm ordinary resellers and fans; they recommended targeted remedies such as bans on bots and deceptive URLs used in search-engine results. The committee voted a due pass (5–3) on the motion to advance the bill.

Low-income utility rate/program authority (House Bill 91) Rep. Ortez presented HB91 to permit investor-owned utilities to propose and deploy low-income rate structures or programs through the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) to reduce the energy burden on households with low incomes. Witnesses from El Paso Electric, PNM, Xcel, and multiple advocacy groups supported the bill and said it gives utilities flexibility to design locally appropriate programs; opponents raised concerns about shifting costs to other ratepayers and urged focus on existing programs such as LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program). Sponsors said LIHEAP and utility low-income programs are complementary. The committee recorded a due pass (5–3).

Housing source-of-income protections (House Bill 339) Rep. Rubio and co-sponsors presented HB339, which would amend the Human Rights Act to bar discrimination in housing based on lawful sources of income (examples listed in committee testimony included Social Security, veterans benefits, and housing vouchers). Supporters (tenant advocates, ACLU of New Mexico, housing-rights groups) said source-of-income discrimination blocks voucher holders — seniors, people with disabilities and families — from accessing housing. Opponents, including the New Mexico Association of REALTORS, raised concerns about increased litigation exposure for small landlords and noted some municipalities already have local ordinances. Sponsors clarified the bill does not require landlords to make unit upgrades to meet housing quality inspections and does not change eviction law; it prohibits denying applicants solely because of lawful payment sources. The committee recorded a do pass motion (narrow majority) and the bill will move forward.

Votes at a glance (selected items taken in committee) - Consent calendar: Multiple House bills including House Bill 56A (Medicaid reimbursements for birth centers), HB93A (advanced grid technology plans), HB99A (nonrepairable vehicle certifications), HB160 (railroad equipment notice), HB281 (hair-braiding licensure), HB145A (highway project bonding), HB154 (bingo and raffle exemptions), HB171 (pharmacy custodial care facilities), HB174 (pharmacy reimbursement for certain plans), HB220 (ignition-resistant construction), HB228 (local restrictions on certain fences), HB233 (diabetic foot ulcer equipment coverage) and HB357 (VA waiver program provider gross receipts) were all moved on the consent calendar with an 8–0 recorded support and forwarded as noted in the record. - Senate Bill 372 (telecommunications relay surcharge): Due pass (committee vote recorded 7–1); moved to Senate Finance. - Senate Bill 419 (protecting vulnerable adults): Due pass (9–0); moved to next committee. - Senate Bill 96 (off-highway vehicle definitions): Due pass (9–0); moved onward. - Senate Bill 127 (film makeup/hair exemption): Due pass (8–0); moved onward. - House Bill 26 (ticket resale at state/nonprofit events): Due pass (5–3); moved onward. - House Bill 91 (low-income utility rate/program): Due pass (5–3); moved onward. - House Bill 339 (source-of-income housing protections): Do pass (narrow majority; recorded 5–4); moved onward.

Why this matters Committee action advances several measures with direct programmatic or consumer impact — from how a small surcharge funds services used by deaf and hard-of-hearing New Mexicans, to whether voucher holders can access rental housing, to whether utilities may seek rate relief or programs targeted at low-income customers. Several items will now face additional committee review or floor consideration where they may be amended further.

What’s next Bills that received due-pass or do-pass recommendations will appear on subsequent committee agendas (for example, Senate Finance or the Senate floor) as noted on the record. Sponsors and opponents flagged issues that could return in amendments — funding levels and the exact structure of any flat TRS rate, the scope and regulatory oversight for new cremation definitions, enforcement language and landlord liability for source-of-income protections, and technical fixes to ensure utilities’ proposals conform to PRC practice.

Committee attendance and context The committee met with eight to nine members present for most votes; the chair repeatedly noted a packed room for several hearings and that the committee was operating on a tight schedule as the session neared adjournment.

Ending Committee members adjourned after announcing follow-up scheduling: a Saturday morning meeting and a shorter Sunday session planned to consider tax provisions. The committee record shows the chair thanking members and staff for their work as the session entered its final days.