Commerce and Economic Development

This House Memorial (HM 6) requests a study on private equity ownership of essential utilities like gas, electric, and water systems in New Mexico. It does not change laws but asks state agencies to examine how private equity control affects service reliability, costs for ratepayers, wildfire risk mitigation, and impacts on rural/low-income communities. The study will analyze maintenance spending, financial extraction tactics, workforce effects, and whether private equity acquisitions threaten public safety or affordability. This is a procedural step to inform future policy decisions, not an immediate regulatory change.

This joint memorial (HJM 1) expresses New Mexico's legislative support for strengthening ties between Taiwan and both the U.S. and New Mexico. It specifically encourages cooperation in trade, technology, education, and Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations like the WHO and UN climate talks. The memorial calls for creating a "New Mexico-Taiwan friendship caucus" to coordinate regular official exchanges, trade missions, and academic partnerships. It directs New Mexico’s economic agencies and universities to develop joint programs with Taiwan, aligning with U.S. policy on Taiwan engagement.

SB 96 ensures registered and licensed child care homes (including family and group homes) are treated as standard residential uses under local zoning rules, meaning they cannot be charged extra fees, require special permits, or face stricter parking rules than other single-family homes in the same zone. Licensed child care centers are permitted "by right" in commercial, mixed-use, or multifamily residential zones without additional fees or building restrictions. The bill prohibits local governments from imposing unique regulations on child care facilities that don’t apply to other private residences and clarifies that homeowner associations cannot block or charge fees for child care operations. These provisions aim to reduce regulatory barriers for child care providers while maintaining consistent zoning standards.

This bill (HM 18) is a House Memorial requesting New Mexico’s state auditor to create a task force addressing the shortage of certified public accountants (CPAs) in the state. The task force, including state departments and stakeholders like the American Institute of CPAs, will study solutions such as integrating accounting into STEM education, expanding K-12 and college programs, and improving workforce training. It specifically aims to tackle barriers like the 150-hour education requirement and declining interest in accounting careers, with recommendations due by November 2025. The bill directly affects New Mexico’s CPA workforce, accounting employers, and students pursuing accounting careers.

House Memorial 59 is a procedural resolution requesting New Mexico's legislative committee to study potential benefits of formal economic ties with Ireland. It asks the committee to examine opportunities for bilateral trade, investment, and business exchanges, including establishing a New Mexico-Ireland trade commission. The resolution cites existing trade data (e.g., $67.4 billion in Irish exports to the U.S. in 2023) and New Mexico's historical connections to Ireland. It does not create new laws but directs the committee to propose legislative actions for the 2026 session based on its findings. This affects New Mexico's state legislature and economic development planning, not individual citizens or businesses.