[Nmtriblibs] FW: NMLA 2023 Legislative Bulletin #14

[Moore, Patricia, DCA]

Forwarded on behalf of Joe Sabatini…

Patricia


From: Joe Sabatini <jsabatini423 at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 2, 2023 9:44 PM
Subject: NMLA 2023 Legislative Bulletin #14

NMLA 2023 Legislative Bulletin #14                                March 2, 2023

HOUSE FLOOR STATUS

House Bill 147, Indian Education Funds Distribution

HB 147 is on the Friday, March 3rd House agenda. It is the sixth item on the “Third Reading of Legislation” calendar.

SENATE FLOOR ACTION

SB 147, Tax Changes

By a vote of 35-0, SB 147 passed the Senate today. It now awaits a hearing by the House Taxation and Revenue Committee.

The webcast for the floor session is at https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00293/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20230301/-1/72137
Discussion of SB 147 begins at 12:31:30 pm and concludes at 12:37:30. There was no substantive discussion of issues in this bill, including the repeal of the tax on government entities purchasing digital products to be loaned to the public.

Senate Bill 270, National History Day Program Schools

By a vote of 33-0, SB 270 passed the Senate today. It now awaits a hearing by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. The bill was heard immediately after SB 147, so the webcast listing is the one above.

Discussion of SB 270 begins at 12:37:30 pm with Senator Siah Correa Hemphill’s description of National History Day. At 12:38:45, Senator William Sharer makes extended remarks about “What is History” and about ongoing issues in American history. At 1:01:30, Senator Craig Brandt discusses the historic legacy of what we do today, and particularly on the issue of human trafficking. At 1:06:20, Senator David Gallegos asks if History Day includes all the cultures of New Mexico. He deplores the removal of symbols of Spanish Colonial heritage. Senator Correa Hemphill describes how students have to do a project on a theme, enabling them to explore diverse areas of our history. At 1:10:30, Senator Harold Pope says we should be held accountable to history for what we do. He is glad to be in a state where we can have discussions about history where we don’t hide from the bad parts of it. At 1:11:20, Senator Gregg Schmedes noted that he reads history books to his school-aged children. He hopes that his children can participate in National History Day. The vote is taken at 1:12:30.


COMMITTEE HEARINGS

House Bill 147, Indian Education Funds Distribution

On February 21st, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee heard HB 147.  HB 147 creates a tribal education fund in the State Treasury to handle Indian Education Funds money. The objective is to ensure that tribes receive stable and consistent funding to carry out tribally based education programs. Such funding would not revert to the state.

Having funding going directly to tribes will assist tribal libraries in carrying out programs; last year specific project funds were allocated by the Public Education Department. These funds arrived in December with the obligation to spend them by the end of June.


Senate Bill 270, National History Day Program Schools

SB 270 by Senator Hemphill appropriates $200,000 to the Department of Cultural Affairs to support schools that participate in the National History Day Program. The New Mexico State Library would contract with the New Mexico Endowment for the Humanities to assist them in conducting the annual New Mexico History Day competition in public and other schools.

On February 27th, SB 270 was heard in the Senate Finance Committee. It was given a do-pass recommendation on a 9-0 vote.


Joe Sabatini, Co-Chair
NMLA Legislation Committee


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