February 5, 2016

Three things to look for on Feb. 5

Yes, the triumphant return of our Three things to look for. We are now in the homestretch of the 2016 Legislative Session and there is more and more happening. If you have forgotten over the last six weeks what we do here, it’s just a quick look at three major things to watch throughout the day on NM […]

Matthew Reichbach

Yes, the triumphant return of our Three things to look for. We are now in the homestretch of the 2016 Legislative Session and there is more and more happening.

If you have forgotten over the last six weeks what we do here, it’s just a quick look at three major things to watch throughout the day on NM Political Report, our Twitter or our Facebook page.

Think of this as one end of the bookend with the Odds and Ends post.

As always, if you have anything that you want to add, shoot an email to [email protected]

Here are three things to look for on Friday, Feb. 5.

1. Driver’s license hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee will get their chance to pick at the driver’s license bill that passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee, where it has died many times in the past, with major changes. The original sponsor does not support the new version. Whether those who are not in the country illegally should need to provide fingerprints is the latest sticking point—but that’s a lot closer than the two sides have been in recent years, when both sides stood their ground until the Senate reached out with a bipartisan bill last year; the House followed suit this year with a new bill that was closer to the Senate version, but not quite close enough.

2. Web-based capital outlay publication

A capital outlay sunshine bill passed a Senate committee already, but a House version will get its moment in the sun (no pun intended) tomorrow in the awkwardly-named House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee. The bill sponsored by House Minority Leader Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, would require that capital outlay allocations be published online within 24 hours of the governor’s action on the capital outlay bill.

3. Senate version of PRC changes

There is an effort this year to make it so the Public Regulation Commission becomes an appointed entity again; in the Senate, Stephen Neville, R-Aztec, is carrying that torch. It requires a constitutional amendment, so it starts the journey in the Senate Rules Committee. The House version passed the aforementioned House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee earlier this week (at the bottom of this story).

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