Lutheran Advocacy Ministry
New Mexico 
Advocating for justice in public policy, 
with a particular emphasis on alleviating poverty and hunger
 
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In This Issue
2016 Legislative Session
Plan to Attend!!
Advocacy Update


February 18, 2016


2016 Legislative Session
Summary of the major bills
relating to the  LAM-NM Advocacy Agenda
(Bills LAM-NM supported are " green" & 
bills we opposed are " red")

The 2016 legislative session is now history. 
The state budget bill, HB2, is now on its way to the governor's desk.
 
Affordable Housing & Homelessness:  
SB63 (Sen. Nancy Rodriguez)
Requested an appropriation of $5 million for the State Housing Trust Fund which provides funding to build affordable housing projects around the state. 
No new funding for the State Housing Trust Fund is available.

SB202  (Sen. Bill O'Neill)
Would have added "homelessness" as a protected group in the NM Hate Crimes Act. 
SB202 was tabled in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

HB59 & HB88  (Rep. Tomas Salazar)
Requested a total of $4.5 million for transitional/permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing and other services. 
No new funding for these programs was included the state budget bill, HB2.

Family-Sustaining Income:
LAM-NM supported  increasing the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families monthly cash assistance amount. 
No increase is included in HB2.

SJR2 (Sen. Michael Padilla) & HJR10 (Reps. Javier Martinez & Moe Maestas)
These constitutional amendments would have allowed an increase in the distribution from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to fund quality early childhood programs. 
SJR2 passed the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee and died in the Senate Finance Committee. HJR10 was tabled in the House Education Committee.

HJR11 (Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero)
This constitutional amendment would have asked voters to approve putting a cap of 36% on loans in our state.
HJR11 was tabled in the House Business & Employment Committee.
 
H ealth Care:  
LAM-NM advocates for adequate funding for the state Medicaid program. 
HB2 includes at least a $50 million cut to the Medicaid program along with reductions of about $14 million in cost containment, growth and utilization of the program.
 
HB191  (Rep. Dennis Roch & Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto) and SB217 (Sen. Benny Shendo & Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage)
Would have created the profession of dental therapist.
These bills were not ruled germane for consideration in this session.

Hunger: 
SB52 (Sen. Nancy Rodriguez)
Requests $400,000 for the State SNAP Supplement Program which serves over 11,000 seniors and people with disabilities by increasing their basic SNAP amount to at least $25.  We are advocating for funding to increase the minimum amount to $30 per month.
Funding to increase the monthly minimum amount to $28 is included in HB2, the state budget bill.
 
Tax Policy:
HB79 (Rep. Bill McCamley)
Would have increased the state Working Families Tax Credit from 10% to 20% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and to repeal the capital gains tax deduction.
HB79 passed the House Business & Employment Committee without recommendation and was tabled in the House Ways & Means Committee.
 
Immigration: 
HB9 9, as amended (
Rep. Paul Pacheco)
HB99 passed the House and was amended in the Senate Public Affairs Committee to reflect the provisions in SB256 (Sens. John Arthur Smith & Stuart Ingle). The amendments provide for a 2 tier license system. Residents can choose to get a REAL ID drivers license if they need one or choose to get a driving authorization card. Driving authorization cards would be available to both legal residents and undocumented residents. HB99, as amended, passed the Senate by a vote of 41-1 and the House has concurred with the Senate amendments. HB99, as amended, will now go to the Governor's desk for signature.

Criminal Justice:
SB140 (Sen. Mary Kay Papen)
Would have prohibited solitary confinement for juveniles and people with a serious mental illness and would require prisons, jails and detention centers to report information about who is held in solitary confinement. 
SB140 was not ruled germane for consideration in this session.
 
SJR1 (Sen. Peter Wirth & Sen. Sander Rue)
This is a constitutional amendment for bail reform. SJR1 would allow judges to deny bail for dangerous arrestees and also prohibit keep arrestees who are not deemed dangerous from being held in jail only because they can't afford bail. 
SJR1 passed the Senate and the House and will now be on the November General Election for approval by the voters.  


LAM-NM advocates on legislation relating to our 
We work in an advocacy partnership with the
  NM Conference of Churches and the Presbytery of Santa Fe.  

 Forward our Updates to others that might be interested in these issues using the link at the end of this email.

Thank you for your advocacy actions!  
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