House committee advances judicial and magistrate retirement bills, livestock fee increase and CTE study; votes unanimous

A committee of the House of Representatives advanced four bills on a near-identical unanimous basis on the evening's agenda, giving due-pass recommendations to measures to credit investment income to judicial and magistrate retirement funds, approving an increase in fee caps for the New Mexico Livestock Board to allow future rulemaking, and forwarding a career-and-technical-education study after adoption of an amendment that removed an appropriation.

The measures were presented and discussed briefly before the committee took voice votes with no recorded opposition. Representative Caballero introduced House Bill 182 as "providing for appropriations and income derived from investments to be credited to the judicial retirement fund," and Greg Trujillo, director of PERA, told the committee, "we're concerned about this fund and this increases the contributions coming in, and the PERA board stands in full support." The committee recorded a due-pass recommendation for HB182.

The panel next took up House Bill 183, which Representative Caballero described as "relating to magistrate retirement, also providing for appropriations and income derived from investments to be credited to the magistrate retirement fund." The ranking member moved a due-pass recommendation and, with Representative Vincent seconding, the committee recorded a due-pass recommendation with no opposition.

On Senate Bill 101, the executive director of the New Mexico Livestock Board testified that the board seeks authority to raise the caps it may charge for inspection and related fees so that any specific fee increases would subsequently be adopted through the board's rulemaking process. The director told the committee that any increases would proceed through a 30-day public comment period and a public hearing, and described limits written into the proposal: "These are in very small increments for, cattle and horses. These fees can only be increased 10¢ annually. For sheep and goats, they can only be increased 4¢ annually." The bill also includes a seasonal-grazing provision that makes cross-district inspections charge 50% of the inspection fee when ownership does not change. Tom Patterson, president-elect of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and a rancher from Catron County, testified in support: "We stand and support," he said, urging approval so the agency can maintain its services. The committee moved a do-pass recommendation on SB101; the motion passed with no recorded opposition.

The committee considered House Bill 433 as amended. An amendment explained by a sponsor struck the appropriation and removed the study deadline; the Higher Education Department had agreed to conduct the study without the removed appropriation. Scott Graginski, deputy secretary of the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, told the committee, "the department is in support of this bill. We think it could improve the effectiveness of career and technical education." The committee adopted the amendment and then gave HB433 a due-pass recommendation.

Votes at a glance: HB182 — due pass (no recorded opposition); HB183 — due pass (no recorded opposition); SB101 (as amended) — do pass (no recorded opposition); HB433 (as amended) — due pass (no recorded opposition). The committee proceeded by voice votes and recorded no formal roll-call opposition on the items advanced.

Members and staff emphasized that several items required subsequent administrative steps. For the retirement measures, PERA affirmed support but did not present a funding tally at the meeting. For SB101, the director noted that the board must adopt any specific fee increases through rulemaking and public comment. For HB433, the amendment removed the appropriation and deadline, with the Higher Education Department agreeing to complete the study in coordination with named departments.

The committee adjourned after completing the agenda items.