Committee advances bill to create towing services oversight and advisory board

The House committee voted to give House Bill 577 a do-pass recommendation to create a Towing Services Oversight and Advisory Board, proponents said, a panel intended to give the towing industry a formal advisory role in conversations with the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

Representative Brown presented the bill on behalf of sponsor Representative Jennifer Jones, who was ill. "We just want our voice heard," said Miss Barela, president of the newly formed New Mexico Towing Recovery Association, describing the board as a place for industry input and mediation rather than inspection or enforcement. "We do not wanna be part of the inspection process… What we want is to be part of the mediation process," she told the committee.

The association’s president outlined why the group formed during recent DOT rulemaking and said towing firms had been left without representation in the transition of certain functions from the Public Regulation Commission to DOT. Several industry witnesses backed the bill in committee. Sergeant David Taylor of the Albuquerque Police Department, who oversees the city’s rotation of on-call towing companies, testified that the industry provides “a great service” and would benefit from better communication with DOT. Angela Roper Barnett, a towing consultant with 29 years in the industry, said she has seen other states adopt similar advisory boards and that the board could reduce misunderstandings that otherwise lead to investigations.

Committee members asked about staffing and whether the advisory board would require additional state hires. Miss Barela said investigators are already on staff in the relevant DOT division and that meetings could be held virtually and run with minimal travel or per diem costs. "We can conduct these meetings on Zoom, and we don't have to have any per diem, any traveling expenses," she said, adding that the association would help recruit members from each legislative district to ensure participation.

Representative Lundstrom moved a due-pass recommendation; Representative Diao seconded. The committee took a roll call and advanced the bill.

Supporters who spoke in favor included Jean Paul Burello of North 54 Savage, Armando Beltran (identified as representing Santa Feito), Sergeant David Taylor (Albuquerque Police Department) and Angela Roper Barnett (towing consultant). The presenters and witnesses repeatedly distinguished the advisory board’s intended mediation role from formal regulatory enforcement handled by DOT or PRC.

The committee advanced HB577 to the next step with the committee’s recommendation. The bill text discussed in committee makes the board advisory only and names the Department of Transportation as the administrative partner referenced in testimony.

The committee adjourned after completing the vote on HB577 and moving to other agenda items.