Senate panel backs bonds to replace cancer-treatment machine at Gila Regional Medical Center

Senators on the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee voted to recommend Senate Bill 190, a revenue‑bonding measure that would let the New Mexico Finance Authority sell bonds—repaid with existing tobacco tax revenues—to replace an aging linear accelerator at Gila Regional Medical Center.

Sponsor Senator Ramos described the bill as a financing measure, not a general‑fund appropriation, saying the hospital’s linear accelerator "reaches the end of life in May 2028" and cannot be used past that date. He said the bonds "are repaid using existing tobacco tax revenues already authorized in state statute" and stressed the bill would not raise taxes.

Robert Whitaker, representing the hospital, and Ron Green, chief nursing officer at the cancer center, told the committee patients now travel long distances for repeated radiation treatments. Green said traveling "two hours one way for treatment is very difficult" and reiterated that local treatment reduces financial and emotional strain for patients and families.

Committee members pressed for details about who repays the bonds and the effect on state funds. The sponsor and witnesses said the bonds are structured as revenue bonds backed by tobacco tax receipts and do not tap the general fund.

Senator Bergman moved language—drawn from the New Mexico Finance Authority fiscal impact recommendations—to extend the bond repayment term from 20 to 30 years; senators agreed it was a friendly amendment. The committee then moved and recorded a due‑pass recommendation on the amended bill; the clerk announced a 7–0 vote in favor.

The bill will move forward as a committee recommendation with the amendment to lengthen the bond term; supporters said it preserves access to cancer treatment in rural New Mexico while avoiding new taxes.