Your NMUCA Board of Directors & Staff
Contact Us - Staff and Board of Directors
President, Troy Otero, Groundhog Construction Services 505 243 2133
Vice-President, Clay Blair, RMCI Inc. 505 345 0008
Secretary/Treasurer, Mike McCalmont, 4 Rivers Equipment 505 884 2900
Past President, Dub Girand, Highway Supply LLC 505 345 8295
Director Darrin Howells, AUI Inc. 505 242 4848
Director Mike Smith, TLC Plumbing & Utility 505 761 9696
Director Joe Menicucci, Contech Engineered Solutions 505 842 8282
Director Reinee Peacher, DuCross Construction 575 636 3023
Director Jenice Gallegos, wood. 505 821 1801
Director Kelley Fetter, E2RC 505 867 4040 
Scott Peck, MP Group 505 340 2015
Executive Director, Jane Jernigan 505 888 0752

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Jane Jernigan, Executive Director
New Mexico Utility Contractors Association 
505 888 0752 Phone
505 362 8950 Cell 

Thank You 2021 Platinum Investment Sponsors
Upcoming in your mailbox..............
  • Legislative Updates & Signed Legislation
  • Safety News and Updates
  • Upcoming Meeting Invitations and Reminders
  • DIG TALKS Presentation
Check Your Unemployment Renewal Rate
NMUCA is working with the NM Business Coalition and signed on to a letter February 16th to the DWFS regarding the hike in insurance rates which employers were supposed to be "held harmless" from according to legislation passed at the 2020 June Special Legislative Session.

ACTION - Please check your account and report any unlawful increases to the DWFS or you can send them to NMUCA as we are continuing our work on correcting this issue for our members and NM employees.

As outlined in SECTION 11. Section 51-1-11 NMSA 1978 Q which states: The secretary shall omit data for March 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 from calculations of an employing enterprise's experience history, excess claims premiums and excess claims rates. The secretary shall use the 2019 computation date reserve factor from January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
New Mexico Legislative Session
NMUCA & The Legislature
Final Report on Regular Session

Update on Governor's Signing

Special Session Update


Jane Jernigan, NMUCA Lobbyist

  Last Report on the 2021 Regular Legislative Session
*NM Governor has until April 9th to sign, veto, or pocket veto bills.
HB 21 TOP PRIORITY – AGAINST Public Works Project Contributions. DID NOT PASS
HB268 TOP PRIORITY – AGAINST Coronavirus & Workers’ Comp DID NOT PASS
HB 20 HEALTHY WORKPLACES ACT Passed (July 1, 2022 Effective Date)
SB20 Transportation Project Fund - Passed
SB3 SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY ACT Chaptered
SB34 DESIGN AND BUILD OF PROJECT DELIVERY SYSTEM Passed
SB70 PUBLIC PROJECT REVOLVING FUND APPROPRIATIONS Passed
SB73 CERTAIN FEES TO MOTOR TRANSPORTATION FEE FUND Passed
SB88 PUBLIC PROJECT REVOLVING FUND PROJECTS Passed
HB285 CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECTS Passed
HB296 CAPITAL OUTLAY REAUTHORIZATIONS Passed
SB121 State Transportation Bonds For Projects Passed
SB143 Public- Private Partnership Act – Did Not Pass
HB148 Unemployment Contribution Rate Change Did Not Pass
HB55 Publication Of Capital Outlay Allocations Passed 
SB53 Procurement Changes -- Did Not Pass
HB 38 Paid Family & Medical Leave Act Did Not Pass 
HB259 Contractor & Subcontractor Reimbursement Did Not Pass
HB12 CANNABIS REGULATION ACT Did Not Pass (Special Session)
SB337 WORKPLACE PREPARATION SCHOOL PROGRAMS Did Not Pass 
SB 348 EMPLOYMENT BOOT CAMP TRAINING Did Not Pass  

Chaptered Legislation
·   Click Here to see a full and updating list of what the Governor has signed. She has until April 9, 2021 to either sign or veto. Anything not signed after April 9th is considered a "pocket veto."

Special Session 2021 - Legalization of Cannabis Passed
The main focus of the special session is to work on passing recreational cannabis. NMUCA cares about this bill and subject because we believe in and are dedicated to safe work environments. Also, since legalization on the state level still means illegal in the federal level, companies that work on federal projects (or have federal funding in full or part) may be compromised by violations of their mandatory drug-free workplaces. There is precedence to protect companies and their drug-free policies that still allows zero tolerance in states where cannabis is legal. Without doubt, whether you are for or against the policy, the passage of this bill will create challenges for our state, our citizens, and our companies.

Thank you 2021 Silver Investment Sponsors
April is Safe Digging Month

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG
IT'S THE LAW
CALL 811



SAVE THE DATE
NM Damage Prevention Summit
October 26-28, 2021
Isleta Resort

Bidding With Subs DIG TALKS
NM Public Health Order & COVID
Here are some helpful links to keep you in the know on the "Emergency Public Health Order" that has just passed it's one year anniversary. There is still no word from the governor what we can expect, if anything, after the Turquoise Level.






Human Resources - Update

Time Management
Doing Battle with the Clock?
4 Ways to Win the Game
The HR Specialist, January 2021



You're swimming in emails, phone calls, "quick question" interruptions and it's only 10am. How do you find time to be "strategic" or even get to that one project you planned to complete today? Here are a few tips on becoming more efficient:

  1. Beat clutter with the "D" System. Every document and email you receive should be discarded, deleted, done, dates (as in when you'll do it), drawered (filed) or deterred (forwarded to someone else).
  2. Manage interruptions. You can't stop people from dropping by or calling. but you can determine how you'll react to their requests. Decide within the first minute whether to deal with the issue on the spot or whether you need to schedule for a longer conversation.
  3. Make a Daily Plan. Block out time for what you want to accomplish in a day. Schedule high-focus tasks for the time of day when you're most alert. Ideally, you want to tackle your top priority within 20 minutes at the start of the day. Set aside 5 to 15 minutes for planning first thing in the morning and at day's end.
  4. Prioritize tasks: It's as a easy as ABC 1-2-3. At the start of the week, list five thing you have to accomplish during that week. Compare No. 1 and No. 2, asking, "If I could get only one done this week, which would it be?" Put a tick mark by the chosen one. Then compare No. 1 against the No. 3 item and so on for each item. Now begin the process again starting with the No. 2 item, then No. 3. etc. The item with the most marks is your A, the next highest number of mark is your B, and so on.


Safety Focus
Water Infrastructure Investment Plan


President Biden Introduces Plan for $111 Billion in
Water Infrastructure Investment

​​US Water Alliance Applauds Historic Investment in Water

The US Water Alliance has advocated for increased investment in water infrastructure since 2015 through our Value of Water Campaign. Water is essential to everything we do, to every community, business, and home in the United States. 

Today President Biden released an ambitious infrastructure plan, the "American Jobs Plan” that included an unprecedented and historic $111 billion investment in water infrastructure. It is heartening to see water be prominently featured in the plan after years of water infrastructure being out of sight and out of mind. We commend today’s commitment to water infrastructure as a reflection and recognition of political will to take action to begin to close the water infrastructure investment gap.

The Plan released today reflects many of the recommendations highlighted in the 2020 paper “The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure” produced by the Alliance’s Value of Water Campaign and the American Society of Civil Engineers. We also see in the Plan a number of funding priorities articulated in the Alliance’s Federal Policy Blueprint, released last month as part of our Recovering Stronger Initiative.

Highlights of the American Jobs Plan proposal for $111 billion in water infrastructure investment:
  • To eliminate all lead pipes and service lines in the country, the plan calls for $45 billion in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and in Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) grants. 
  •  
  • To modernize aging drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater systems by scaling up existing, successful programs, the plan calls for providing $56 billion in grants and low-cost flexible loans to states, Tribes, territories, and disadvantaged communities across the country.
  •  
  • Finally, the plan includes $10 billion in funding to monitor and remediate PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water and to invest in rural small water systems and household well and wastewater systems, including drainage fields.

What’s Next. The Alliance will be monitoring the implementation of President Biden’s plan and related Congressional legislation closely. We anticipate the House will introduce its version of an infrastructure bill in the coming months, and we hope to see legislative movement in the Senate this summer as well. 

In April, the Value of Water Campaign will release its annual poll on American’s opinion about investing in water infrastructure, participate in Water Week (April 25-May 10), and join United for Infrastructure Week 2021 (May 10-14) to lift up the necessity of investing in water infrastructure. 

New Mexico Safe Certified
Get Certified!
As NM's Governor starts to loosen up the State Health Order, we are grateful that construction remains an essential industry. There is a lot of work going on out there if orange barrels are any indication! To help build confidence with your employees, your visitors, the public and to send a strong message to the governor that NM businesses are serious about the safety and health of our fellow citizens.
NM Safe Certified is based on the Governor's "All Together New Mexico" and allows you to choose your specific industry. You will receive a listing and certificate and Media for your webpage and social media.

Get Social With NMUCA!