Panel backs updating state equipment fund to cover software as agencies modernize systems
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Summary
The committee approved a do‑pass recommendation for the Senate Rules substitute for SB132, which adds software replacement and upgrade planning to the state equipment replacement fund to improve agency resiliency and cost predictability.
Senate Bill 132 (Rules Committee substitute), presented by Senator Michael Padilla with cabinet secretary Manny Barretas, would expand the state’s equipment replacement planning to formally include software and rename the equipment replacement fund to the Equipment and Software Replacement Revolving Fund. Sponsors and the IT lead said the change aligns planning and funding for software and hardware life cycles, reduces risk of catastrophic failures and yields long‑term efficiency and transparency.
Manny Barretas and a second presenter told the committee New Mexico’s technology backbone is aging, and agency planning currently treats software separately from hardware. The substitute would allow departments to budget and plan for software upgrades alongside equipment replacement so agencies that rely on Microsoft 365, Adobe, ServiceNow and other critical applications can budget upgrade cycles rather than face unplanned emergency costs.
Jason Giannas, representing the New Mexico Exchange Carrier Group, and former state CIO Roy Sotto offered brief supportive public comments, calling the change timely and necessary. Ranking member Chatfield moved a do‑pass recommendation on the Rules Committee substitute for SB132; the motion was seconded (representative Silva and Pettigrew noted as seconders) and the committee recorded a do‑pass recommendation with no opposition.
