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Committee Rift Opens after Anti-Trans Athlete Bill Tabled

By Source NM A committee tabled legislation Feb. 13 from New Mexico Republicans that sought to ban transgender athletes from womenโ€™s sports teams and echoed an executive orderย signed by President Donald Trump earlier this month. The state House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee voted 4-2 on party lines to table House Bill 185, following an incendiary […]

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Is it Time to Stop Taxing Tips?

By Nicole Maxwell A bill seeking to add a tax exemption for tipped workers was introduced in the Senate last week. SB 285 would exempt tips from state income tax. One of the billโ€™s sponsors, Sen. Jay Block , R-Rio Rancho, told NM Political Report itโ€™s a โ€œcommon senseโ€ bill and โ€œgood for the people in New Mexico […]

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Journalist Protection Bill Moves Forward

By Nicole Maxwell Journalism, a constitutionally protected profession enshrined in the First Amendment, is the subject of a proposed law update. HB 153 would prohibit state agencies from coercing a journalist to reveal their sources, communications or documents related to their work. โ€œ[HB 153] updates and strengthens protections for journalists and mediums of communication by defining […]

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A Bill to Bring Transparency to Hospital Transactions Heads to Senate Judiciary Committee

By Susan Morรฉe A bill that would provide state oversight of private equity firm purchases of hospitals passed its first committee along party lines, without a recommendation.   SB 14, the Healthcare Consolidation and Transparency Act, sponsored by Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, would create a review process triggered by the purchase of a hospital. Duhigg narrowed […]

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Cannabis Testing Bill Moves Forward

By Nicole Maxwell A bill seeking to remove cannabis from the list of substances employers test for during employment drug screenings in most cases is being discussed in the Roundhouse. Under HB 230 employees would also not be considered โ€œimpairedโ€ if  cannabis metabolites show up in a test sample. โ€œThe purpose of this bill is really to […]

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