Thanks to everyone who called, emailed, and showed up at the Roundhouse this session! The work is just starting as we head into a big election year. Those legislators who didn’t support us this year? We need to hold them accountable!
CWA-Sponsored Legislation
Cost of Living Adjustment
In the last week of the session, the Senate passed a budget that completely removed the 1% COLA/raise from the budget! We fought alongside AFSCME and the educator unions and were able to restore the 1% with help from our allies in the House of Representatives. This is a huge win for public sector workers in New Mexico that represents more than the monetary value of a 1% raise – it is proof that when we stand together, shoulder to shoulder, workers can win. Onward to bigger raises next session!
HB 98: State Employee Salaries, Leave, and Retention
This bill that would give State Workers faster leave accrual, paid parental leave, automatic cost-of-living increases for our lowest-paid colleagues, and remote work options was not heard this session. But we have been using it as a talking point with legislators and candidates in the Governor’s race to make sure we win these priorities next year!
HM 7: A Study on the use of Employment Classifications that Result in Long-Term Work Without Benefits
This memorial was passed unanimously in the House Labor Committee but was never scheduled to be heard on the House floor. We met with Speaker Martinez and he promised us that he would make sure this study gets done. It will set the stage for a 2027 bill that will close loopholes in the law that allow the state to exploit employees in “temporary” positions and deny them benefits. Stay tuned for more action alerts because we don’t want this important issue to be forgotten!
We were not able to get the Governor to agree to put our bill to shorten the State Employee Probationary Period on her list of approved legislation. We have been talking to Gubernatorial candidates about getting this passed NEXT year when we have a new Governor!
CWA-Supported Legislation
HB 172: Safe Staffing for Nurse to Patient Ratios
This bill did not get a “message” from the Governor and was not be heard this session. But we will be pushing for it in 2027 and working with the bill sponsor in the interim.
HB 295: Accessibility Act
After moving quickly through the House and one Senate committee, this bill stalled out while waiting to be heard on the Senate floor late in the session. We will keep our eye on this in next year’s session.
HJR 3: Green Amendment
This joint resolution was “rolled” in its first committee meeting, which means it wasn’t heard again this session.
HB 9: Immigrant Safety Act
This bill was signed into law by the Governor on February 5th!
HJR 5: Legislative Compensation
This resolution made a quick, late-session run through both the House and Senate, and crossed the finish line late on the second-to-last night of the session. Since this is a constitutional amendment, it will be on the ballot in the general election in November. We will be STRONGLY suggesting all our members vote “yes” in November so that we can start to build a Legislature that’s made up of working people, not just the wealthy elite.
In Solidarity,
CWA 7076 Political Action Committee