House Dems rework tax overhaul proposal

Democratic lawmakers proposed a new overhaul of the state’s tax code on Monday, offering a revamped version of a bill filed earlier in the session and roundly criticized. Rep. Jim Trujillo, D-Santa Fe, who chairs the House Taxation and Revenue Committee, said House Bill 6 had since been “changed substantially.” Perhaps most notably for the […]

House Dems rework tax overhaul proposal

Democratic lawmakers proposed a new overhaul of the state’s tax code on Monday, offering a revamped version of a bill filed earlier in the session and roundly criticized.

Rep. Jim Trujillo, D-Santa Fe, who chairs the House Taxation and Revenue Committee, said House Bill 6 had since been “changed substantially.”

Perhaps most notably for the average taxpayer, the 131-page bill adds brackets to the state’s personal income tax.

The state currently levies a 4.9 percent income tax on families filing jointly and earning more than $24,000 a year. And at the moment, that is as high as the state’s personal income tax goes.

House Bill 6 would add several other levels. For example, a couple earning between $35,000 and $75,000 a year would pay 5.2 percent. Couples earning more than $300,000 a year would pay the new top tax rate of 6.5 percent.

Moreover, the bill would repeal part of the capital gains deduction.

But the bill would also double the Working Families Tax Credit. It would also extend state and local gross receipts taxes to goods purchased online, increase the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products, tax e-cigarettes and increase the motor vehicle excise tax.

Democrats argue that despite the state’s budget surplus, some sort of big change to the state’s tax law is key to avoid the ups and downs in the state’s finances that have come with New Mexico’s heavy reliance on oil and gas revenue. If New Mexico is going to avoid rounds of budget cuts in the future, the state has to find other sources of revenue it can rely on when the oil markets decline again, Trujillo argued.

“The purposes are still the same,” he said of the retooled bill. “To stabilize revenue and raise recurring revenue to help the state weather downturns in the oil and gas sectors.”

Legislative aides estimated the bill would raise $286 million for the state’s general fund in the next fiscal year and another $37 million for state and local roads.

Republicans cautioned that changes in the personal income tax brackets in particular could punish families that get a pay raise.

“What I’d like to see is a way we can have a gradual way if a family gets a good job and a pay rise they don’t all of a sudden fall of a cliff,” Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, told the House Taxation and Revenue Committee.

The committee will discuss whether to make even more changes to the bill on Wednesday.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that she will call the Legislature into a special session this summer to address public safety legislation that did…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Sandia researchers look at ways to store hydrogen underground

Sandia researchers look at ways to store hydrogen underground

As the world looks to decarbonize, governments are promoting hydrogen, a somewhat controversial energy source, as an important component of that effort. But that…
American Rivers ranks waters in New Mexico as the most endangered in the country

American Rivers ranks waters in New Mexico as the most endangered in the country

New Mexico rivers are the most endangered in the country, according to the annual report from American Rivers. This is because of two U.S.…
Economic Development Department announces Energy Transition Act funding awards

Economic Development Department announces Energy Transition Act funding awards

Funding to assist with economic development following the closure of the San Juan Generating Station will be distributed to four projects in San Juan,…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that an 1864 abortion ban is enforceable, throwing another state bordering New Mexico into the situation of…
The status of the lawsuit New Mexico joined to remove FDA restrictions to mifepristone

The status of the lawsuit New Mexico joined to remove FDA restrictions to mifepristone

While the U.S. Supreme Court considers the future of access to the abortion medication, mifepristone, another lawsuit against the FDA that would expand access…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that an 1864 abortion ban is enforceable, throwing another state bordering New Mexico into the situation of…
The status of the lawsuit New Mexico joined to remove FDA restrictions to mifepristone

The status of the lawsuit New Mexico joined to remove FDA restrictions to mifepristone

While the U.S. Supreme Court considers the future of access to the abortion medication, mifepristone, another lawsuit against the FDA that would expand access…
Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

U.S. Rep. Gabriel “Gabe” Vasquez, a Democrat who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District along the U.S.-Mexico border, cosponsored a resolution on Monday calling…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
Politics Newsletter: Early and absentee voting

Politics Newsletter: Early and absentee voting

Good morning fellow political junkies! Early and absentee voting for the June 4 New Mexico primary begins in about a month. The nonprofit election…
American Rivers ranks waters in New Mexico as the most endangered in the country

American Rivers ranks waters in New Mexico as the most endangered in the country

New Mexico rivers are the most endangered in the country, according to the annual report from American Rivers. This is because of two U.S.…

Can the Albuquerque Police Department ever be reformed?

by Joshua Bowling, Searchlight New Mexico In the past decade, reforming the Albuquerque Police Department has cost nearly $40 million and generated 5,600 pages…
Politics Newsletter: Uncommitted primary voting

Politics Newsletter: Uncommitted primary voting

Hello fellow political junkies! Early and absentee voting in the New Mexico Primary begin on May 7. With many voters readying their choice for…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report