A Senate committee voted to advance three bills during the hearing: Senate Bill 175, which expands uses of the Child Care Revolving Loan Fund; a veterinary loan repayment bill presented with an amendment; and a bill expanding projects authorized under the Public Project Revolving Loan Fund (PPRF) administered by the New Mexico Finance Authority.

Senator Siah Bregman introduced Senate Bill 175 and said the bill would expand allowable uses of the Child Care Revolving Loan Fund and allow loan repayment on a contract-for-services basis for qualifying child-care providers. The bill’s sponsors told the committee there is a $10 million appropriation expected in HB 2. Markita Russell of the New Mexico Finance Authority joined the presentation for technical questions; Senator Bregman said employers could also qualify to receive loans if they develop workplace child-care programs. A motion to give SB 175 a do-pass recommendation carried; the committee recorded a do-pass motion moved by Senator Veil and seconded by Senator Steinborn.

Senator Woods presented a separate bill to create a loan-repayment incentive to attract veterinarians. The panel considered an amendment that struck the bill’s appropriation and discussed a multi-year repayment schedule the bill would provide: $15,000 repayment credited in the first two years and higher amounts in subsequent years up to roughly $80,000 after four years, according to the sponsor’s description. The committee adopted the amendment and then voted to pass the bill as amended.

Senator Steinberg presented Senate Bill 115 to authorize additional projects under the New Mexico Finance Authority PPRF. The original bill added a set of projects; the adopted amendment expanded seven projects and added 45 more projects that requested funding after the initial application round closed. The committee approved the amended bill to move forward.

Committee voting records in the hearing show unanimous committee approval for the latter two measures and recorded do-pass actions for all three bills. Committee clerks called the roll for each measure and the panel directed the bills to the next steps in the legislative process.