Week Three Session Wrap-up and the Week Ahead

Common Cause NM staff had a busy and successful week moving our priority legislation forward to close out the third week of the 2019 legislative session.

A HUGE THANK YOU to those of you who called and emailed committee members to voice your support and to our members and partners who came to committee hearings in person to testify in-person!

WINS:

HB 55, AGREEMENT TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT BY NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE, sponsored by Rep. Gail Chasey, Sen. Mimi Stewart, Rep. Daymon Ely, Rep. Patrcia Roybal Caballero and Sen. Carlos Cisneros

Passed the HOUSE FLOOR on Feb. 1 by a vote of 41-27!

Next, this bill goes to the Senate for committee assignments.

HB 55 allows New Mexico to enter into a multi-state compact to award states’ presidential electors to the winner of the national popular vote. The Secretary of State would determine which presidential and vice presidential candidates received the most nationwide votes and certify the appointment of electors for those candidates. The compact would take effect when states possessing a majority of the electoral votes (270) have joined the compact.

HB 93, PRIMARY ELECTION PARTICIPATION BY DTS VOTERS, sponsored by Rep. Daymon Ely, Rep. Natalie Figueroa, Rep. Joy Garratt, Rep. Melanie A. Stansbury

Passed the HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE by a vote of 3-2.

Next, HB 93 goes to the HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT, ELECTIONS & INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

HB 93, “Open Primaries” amends the Election Act to allow voters not affiliated with a major political party to cast a ballot in primary elections. Unaffiliated voters would participate by choosing which major political party primary ballot to cast for the election.

HB 86, ELECTION DAY & EARLY VOTING REGISTRATION, sponsored by Rep. Ely, Rep. Sariñana, Sen. Steinborn, Rep. Caballero & Rep. Garratt

Passed the HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT, ELECTIONS & INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE by a vote of 5-3.

Next, this bill goes to the HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

HB 86 allows qualified voters to register on election day in the precinct where he or she resides or during the early voting period upon presentation of identification that is currently required to register to vote.

Coming up this week:

Monday, Feb. 4, 2019

HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT, ELECTIONS & INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

HB 140, Employer Estimated Lobbyist Reports, sponsored by Rep. Patricia Caballero and. Sen. Jeff Steinborn

HB 140 amends the Lobbyist Regulation Act to require lobbyist employers to file estimated lobbying expenses and political contributions made by a lobbyist on their behalf. It also requires disclosure of compensation paid to a lobbyist.

It further requires the Secretary of State to post reports on the SOS website within 48 hours of receipt, except during legislative sessions, when they must be posted within 24 hours of receipt.

HB 131, Post-Session Lobbying Reports, sponsored by Rep. Day Hochman and Sen. Jeff Steinborn

HB 131 would require that lobbyists must also, within one week of the end of a legislative session, send the Secretary of State a list of the bills on which the lobbyist worked during that session, and whether the legislation was supported or opposed. Currently, there is no requirement to disclose which bills the lobbyist has worked on.

HB 169, Public Corruption Act, sponsored by Rep. Matthew McQueen

HB 169 creates the “Public Corruption Act.” Upon conviction of public corruption, a public official becomes ineligible to receive a Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) pension, “Public corruption” is defined as committing certain offenses while campaigning or serving as a public official.

The offenses include fraud, embezzlement, extortion, forgery, bribery of a public officer or public employee, demanding or receiving a bribe by public employee, bribery or intimidation of a witness or retaliation against a witness, racketeering, computer crimes, and money laundering. They also include a violation of perjury, soliciting or receiving a kickback, offering or paying a kickback and conspiracy to commit any of the offenses.

Bills waiting for agenda scheduling in the HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE this week:

HB 86 – ELECTION DAY & EARLY VOTING REGISTRATION; Sponsored by Rep. Ely, Rep. Sariñana, Sen. Steinborn, Rep. Caballero & Rep. Garratt

HB 57 – RESTORE FELON VOTING RIGHTS; Sponsored by Rep. Gail Chasey

HB 84 – AUTO VOTER REGISTRATION AT MVD & ELSEWHERE; Sponsored by Rep. Ely, Rep. Sariñana, Sen. Steinborn, Rep. Caballero & Rep. Garratt

Look out for updates regarding the enabling legislation for the new Independent Ethics Commission which should be filed soon!

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