Menstrual products in prisons advances: A bill requiring correctional facilities to provide free menstrual products to prisoners advanced out of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on a party-line vote Saturday morning.
Sponsor Rep. Janelle Anyanonu, D-Albuquerque, said money was included in last year's budget to pay for menstrual products for inmates and praised Corrections Department Cabinet Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero for ensuring they are available. The bill, she said, would make sure menstrual products are available in the future after Tafoya Lucero's tenure.
"I think it's wonderful, and we can codify positive actions in statute," Tafoya Lucero told the committee.
Several people testified in favor of the bill and none against it. Alexandria Taylor, executive director of the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, noted prison inmates are also often sexual assault survivors.
"This bill is about restoring dignity and the right for us to care for ourselves," she said.
Reps. John Block, R-Alamogordo, and Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, voted against the bill, although neither seemed opposed to the concept and both left open the possibility of supporting it on the House floor. Block said they would like to propose a couple of amendments to it.
"It definitely doesn't mean I'm a no on the floor," Block said. "I'm just a no for now."
Democrats vote to keep clean fuel rules: The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted along party lines Saturday to shut down a Republican attempt to roll back the clean transportation fuel standards law passed last year.
Representatives of a couple of environmental groups testified against House Bill 328, which is being sponsored by Rep. Randall Pettigrew, R-Lovington.
"We believe killing the clean fuel standard would be a step backward for New Mexico. ... It really sends the wrong message to businesses and puts public health at risk," Alex Eubanks, with the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, told the committee.
Jim Winchester, the executive director of the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico, testified in favor of repeal, saying clean fuel standards, which haven't been implemented yet in New Mexico but will be soon, would drive up gas prices.
"We believe that it's simply a clean fuel gas tax that does not help the environment in any measurable way," he said. "It's a California idea later picked up by a handful of progressive states only to backfire."
Pettigrew argued New Mexico doesn't have the infrastructure to support an increased demand for electric vehicles.
"None of our suppliers can meet full-capacity demands right now, from our majors to our rural electric co-ops," he said. "We need to ... go back to the drawing board with respect to the right way to get this implemented."
House committee, senators take action on 'baby bonds': The House Health and Human Services committee voted 5-4 Friday to create a trust fund to help children born in New Mexico with education, housing and other costs after they graduate high school.
House Bill 7, or the Children's Future Act, would set aside $5 million to establish the fund as well as creating a task force to design the program and report back to the governor and Legislature at the end of the year. It now heads to the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.
"By giving every child in our state access to funding for their education, business ideas, or simply to afford housing as they begin their adult lives, we can make sure all New Mexicans can envision a bright future with limitless potential," lead sponsor Rep. Linda Serrato, D-Santa Fe, said in a statement.
Also on Friday, Sens. Leo Jaramillo, D-Española and Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, announced they were marking Valentine's Day by introducing Senate Bill 397, the New Mexico Next Generation Act, which would create two funds to pay for a "baby bonds" program.
"As Senator representing Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval & Santa Fe counties, I know how much the Next Generation Trust Fund will support children and families across the state," Jaramillo said in a statement.
State Treasurer Laura Montoya, who has been an advocate for a "baby bonds" program, also voiced support for their bill.
"At the end of the day, SB 397 fundamentally advances the creation of Baby Bonds, which intends to invest in our children, bridge the wealth divide in our state, and strengthen our workforce and economy," Montoya said. "I am thankful that Sen. Maestas and Sen. Jaramillo recognize both the need and the vision to establish this trust fund."
Democrats file bill to block immigration detention: Three Democratic House members, including Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, filed a bill on Wednesday to bar not only the state but local governments from entering into agreements to detain people for civil federal immigration violations.
House Bill 9, or the Immigrant Safety Act, would require counties and municipalities that currently have any such agreements to terminate them. The bill has been scheduled for a hearing in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee Tuesday afternoon; it has also been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which Chandler chairs.
Quote of the day: "Representative Montoya, did you go to dinner last night?"
"Mr. Speaker, if you look at me I go to dinner every night."
-- House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, and Rep. Rod Montoya, R-Farmington.