Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, in a lengthy floor session, the House of Representatives passed 15 bills, ranging from efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and expand access to housing and healthcare to legislation that would protect the rights victims of sexual abuse.

"As we enter the final stretch of the legislative session, we have some long days ahead in the People's House," said  House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque). "We're rolling up our sleeves to continue delivering on our promises to make our communities safer, protect the well-being of our kids and families, and make life better and more affordable for all New Mexicans."

Below is a full list of the bills that passed the House today:

House Bill 457: the Geologic Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Act - would help reduce atmospheric carbon and combat climate change by giving the Oil Conservation Division (OCD) of the Energy, Mineral, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) authority, or "primacy" to regulate carbon sequestration and storage.
 
Vote: 48-15
Sponsors: Reps. Meredith Dixon (D-Albuquerque), Reps. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), and Jack Chatfield (R-Mosquero) and Senators Steve Lanier (R-Aztec) and William Sharer (R-Farmington)

House Bill 458: Carbon Dioxide Storage Stewardship Act - would create a new fee of 10 cents per metric ton of carbon dioxide captured for storage, with the fee paid by operators of sequestration projects. The fee revenue would be deposited into a new Geologic Carbon Dioxide Long-Term Stewardship Fund and would fund the long-term storage of sequestered carbon dioxide.
 
Vote: 51-11
Sponsors: Reps. Meredith Dixon (D-Albuquerque), Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), Jack Chatfield (R-Mosquero) and Senators Steve Lanier (R-Aztec) and William Sharer (R-Farmington)
 
House Bill 469: Border Authority & Director Requirements - would improve infrastructure and economic development in New Mexico's border communities, by expanding the New Mexico Border Authority board to enhance its capabilities and agility.
 
Vote: 64-0
Sponsors: House Majority Caucus Chair Raymundo Lara (D-Chamberino) and House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque)
 
House Bill 554: Residential Home Building Authorization - would help address New Mexico's housing shortage by requiring that zoning authorities include accessory dwelling units, such as casitas or guest houses, in residential zoning districts as a permitted use and multi-family residential housing in commercial zoning districts.
 
Vote: 50-10
Sponsors: Reps. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), Cristina Parajón (D-Albuquerque), and Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences)
 
House Bill 295 - Tax On Property Owned by NM RETA - would exempt any property, including transmission lines, owned by the Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (RETA) from property taxes, as such property is instrumental to the state.
 
Vote: 38-27
Sponsors: Reps. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces) and Cristina Parajón (D-Albuquerque)

 House Bill 73: Childhood Sexual Abuse Statute Of Limitations - would provide survivors of childhood sexual abuse greater legal recourse by extending the statute of limitations for civil action, bringing New Mexico's laws more in line with the latest research, which indicates that most childhood abuse survivors take many decades to process their trauma. 
 
Vote: 64-0
Sponsors: 21 sponsors, led by Reps. Marianna Anaya (D-Albuquerque), Liz Thomson (D-Albuquerque), E. Diane Torres-Velásquez (D-Albuquerque), Nicole Chavez (R-Albuquerque), and Senator Katy Duhigg (D-Albuquerque)
 
House Bill 87: Non-Consensual Touching Clarification - would clarify definitions for non-consensual contact in state law and bring New Mexico's standards in-line with national norms.
 
Vote: 66-0
Sponsor: House Majority Whip Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque)
 
House Bill 413: Physician Assistant Licensure Compact - would expand access to healthcare in New Mexico by entering the state into the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, which would allow participating physician assistants to practice in New Mexico.
 
Vote: 65-0
Sponsors: 8 sponsors, led by Minority Leader Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena), and Reps. Harlan Vincent (R-Glencoe), Jenifer Jones (R-Deming), Liz Thomson (D-Albuquerque), House Majority Whip Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque)
 
House Bill 402: Health Insurance Provider Info Loading - would streamline and regulate the processing and reimbursement for dental providers in New Mexico.
 
Vote: 65-0
Sponsor: Rep. Joshua Hernandez (R-Rio Rancho)
 
House Bill 487 - Protection of Hispanic Education - would expand the purpose of New Mexico's Hispanic Education Act to include protecting and preserving Spanish language and culture.
 
Vote: 63-3
Sponsors: Reps. E. Diane Torres-Velásquez (D-Albuquerque), Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque), Yanira Gurrola (D-Albuquerque), Tanya Mirabal Moya (R-Valencia), and Senator Linda López (D-Albuquerque)
 
House Bill 67: Reasonable Assurance For Higher Ed Employees - would protect access to unemployment benefits for employees of New Mexico educational institutions by allowing non-tenured employees, who had reasonable assurance that they would be rehired, to receive unemployment benefits if they lose their job between academic terms.
 
Vote: 47-18
Sponsors: Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque) and Senator Leo Jaramillo (D-Española)
 
House Bill 65: Instructional Days In School Year - would allow local school boards and governing bodies of charter schools to determine the total number of weekly and annual instructional days that students would be in school programs.
 
Vote: 64-0
Sponsors: Minority Leader Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena), Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences) and Senator Pat Woods (R-Broadview)
 
House Bill 532: Student Water Safety Guidance - would require all New Mexico school districts and charter schools to develop and provide student water safety guidance at the beginning of each school year to help prevent drowning deaths and injuries.
 
Vote: 65-0
Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Sanchez (D-Alcalde)
 
House Bill 368: High Wage Jobs Tax Credit "Threshold Job" - would make technical updates to help more effectively administer the tax credit available to New Mexico businesses who provide high-wage jobs in the state.
 
Vote: 65-0
Sponsors: Reps. Joshua Hernandez (R-Rio Rancho) and Meredith Dixon (D-Albuquerque)
 
House Bill 155: Gaming Control Board Director Qualifications - would update employment qualifications and salary limitations for the executive director of the Gaming Control Board.
 
Vote: 57-1
Sponsor: Rep. Martin Zamora (R-Clovis)
 
The House also passed two memorials.
 
House Memorial 37: Mount Taylor As Cultural Property - would affirm New Mexico's commitment to protecting and preserving Mount Taylor as a traditional cultural site and opposing uranium mining projects that threaten its cultural and environmental integrity.
 
Vote: 39-23
Sponsors: Reps. Michelle Paulene Abeyta (D-To'hajiilee) and D. Wonda Johnson (D-Church Rock)
 
House Joint Memorial 5: Protections For Upper Pecos Watershed - would support federal protections for the Upper Pecos Watershed to safeguard its environmental and cultural significance.
 
Vote: 52-9
Sponsors: Reps. Anita Gonzales (D-Las Vegas), Joseph Sanchez (D-Alcalde), Tara Lujan (D-Santa Fe), Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), and Senator Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics (D-Cerrillos)
 
Members of the public are welcome to attend floor sessions and committee meetings at the New Mexico Roundhouse, and can tune in virtually through the New Mexico Legislature's Webcasts tab. Public comment can also be provided in-person, and via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.