[Nmtriblibs] FW: NMLA 2024 Legislative Bulletin #4

Wed Jan 24 09:41:27 MST 2024

Forwarded on behalf of Joe Sabatini…

From: Joe Sabatini <jsabatini423 at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 11:41 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] NMLA 2024 Legislative Bulletin #4

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2024 NMLA Legislative Bulletin #4                                                  January 24, 2024

LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE DAY IS THIS FRIDAY, JANUARY 26

Come to Legislative Day and ask library supporters in your community to attend. NMLA is presenting an orientation session for attendees from 8:30 to 9:30 am in Room 326 in the Capitol. Larry Horan, NMLA’s legislative advocate, will present tips for working with legislators and describe what to expect from the 2024 session. Our colleagues from each type of library will summarize their needs and agendas. Then we can visit legislators' offices. The House floor session is likely to begin at 11:00 am, and Representative Kathleen Cates will note the occasion of Library Legislative Day and recognize us in the gallery. The Senate floor session is likely to begin at 11:30 am, and Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino will do the recognition.

A diagram of the 3rd floor of the Capitol and information about Santa Fe parking are attached. Arrive early as parking lots fill quickly.

Another alternative is to take the New Mexico Rail Runner Express train. Northbound #102 Express leaves Belen at 5:36 am and arrives at the Santa Fe Depot at 7:48 am. At the depot, Santa Fe Pick Up downtown shuttles are available when the train arrives and stop at the Capitol. Return southbound trips leave the depot at 1:02, 2:46 and 4:15 pm.   https://www.riometro.org/226/Weekday

Remember that all individuals entering any entrance to the Capitol will be screened for weapons. This will slow the process of getting to early meetings on time.

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED

SENATE BILL 170 by Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino
Rural Library Endowment Fund Appropriation of $30 million

 As noted last time the Governor's budget requested $10 million this year, which would have raised the endowment fund to $38 million. However, the Legislative Finance Committee budget had no recommendation for additional Rural Libraries Endowment funding. The program as envisioned by prime sponsor Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino, co-sponsored by Representative Gail Armstrong, seeks to have an endowment fund of over $50 million to yield effective assistance to public and tribal libraries serving communities under 3,000 people.

Supporters should contact their local legislators, as well as members of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. These members are listed below. Email addresses are on the Legislature's website in the Legislators tab.
https://nmlegis.gov/

Here is the text of the Rural Libraries Endowment Fund bill:

SENATE BILL 170
56TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2024
INTRODUCED BY Gerald Ortiz y Pino

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE RURAL LIBRARIES ENDOWMENT FUND.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION.--Thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the rural libraries endowment fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2025 and subsequent fiscal years for the purposes of the fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

HB 123 PROSCRIBING THE BANNING OF LIBRARY MATERIALS.

In response to organized attempts to have targeted titles and categories of books removed from public libraries, Representative Kathleen Cates and four co-sponsors have introduced legislation proscribing the banning of library materials. This bill is awaiting a hearing in the House Rules Committee, which determines whether substantive non-budget legislation not in the Governor's "call" are germane.

Here is the text of the bill:
HOUSE BILL 123
56TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2024
INTRODUCED BY Kathleen Cates and Harold Pope and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and
Cristina Parajón and Natalie Figueroa

AN ACT RELATING TO LIBRARIES; PROSCRIBING THE BANNING OF LIBRARY MATERIALS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] PUBLIC LIBRARIES--PROHIBITING BOOK BANNING.--

A. A public library shall not be eligible to receive state funds unless the library:
(1) adopts and complies with the American library association's library bill of rights, including the requirement that library materials not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval or the author's race, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation or political or religious views; or
(2) adopts a written policy prohibiting the practice of banning books or other library materials within the library or library system on the basis of partisan or doctrinal disapproval or the author's race, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation or political or religious views pursuant to rules promulgated by the state librarian.
B. A political subdivision of the state shall not reduce funding for a public library due to the library's compliance with the provisions of Subsection A of this section.
C. The provisions of Subsection A of this section are not intended to curtail the right of individuals to challenge library materials as part of an approved library collection development policy following established library materials challenge procedures.
D. As used in this section:
(1) "ban" means the act of removing or prohibiting the addition of materials from a public library;
(2) "challenge" means an attempt to remove or restrict materials in a public library; and
(3) "public library" means a library that completes and submits to the state librarian an annual New Mexico public library survey.

SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
provisions of this act is July 1, 2024.

*********************
House Appropriations & Finance Committee

Monday through Friday- 1:30 p.m. (Room 307)

Rep. Nathan P. Small
36 D  Chair
Rep. Meredith A. Dixon
20 D  Vice Chair
Rep. Gail Armstrong
49 R  Ranking Member
Rep. Anthony Allison
  4 D  Member
Rep. Brian G. Baca
  8 R  Member
Rep. Cathrynn N. Brown
55 R  Member
Rep. Jack Chatfield
67 R  Member
Rep. Art De La Cruz
12 D  Member
Rep. Natalie Figueroa
30 D  Member
Rep. Harry Garcia
69 D  Member
Rep. Joy Garratt
29 D  Member
Rep. Pamelya Herndon
28 D  Member
Rep. Tara Jaramillo
38 D  Member
Rep. Tara L. Lujan
48 D  Member
Rep. Rod Montoya
   1 R  Member
Rep. Randall T. Pettigrew
61 R  Member
Rep. Joseph Sanchez
40 D  Member
Rep. Debra M. Sariñana
21 D  Member

Senate Finance Committee

Monday through Friday - 1:30 p.m. (Room 322)

Senator   George K. Muñoz
  4 D  Chair
Senator
Nancy Rodriguez         24
D Vice Chair
Senator
William E. Sharer    1
R Ranking Member
Senator
William F. Burt         33
R Member
Senator
Pete Campos   8
D Member
Senator
Crystal Diamond Brantley 35
R Member
Senator
Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales     6 D
Member
Senator
Siah Correa Hemphill 28
D Member
Senator
Michael Padilla         14
D Member
Senator
Jeff Steinborn         36
D Member
Senator
Pat Woods           7
R Member

https://nmlegis.gov/

Joe Sabatini, Co-Chair
NMLA Legislation Committee

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