HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:

SANTA FE — House Bill 11 sponsored by Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces) and Linda Trujillo (D-Santa Fe) was introduced Thursday on the House floor. 

A good government bill, House Bill 11 reorganizes New Mexico’s Public Regulations Commission (PRC) to ensure consistency in decision-making, expertise in implementing state law, and security to PRC staff whose knowledge base is critical to the agency’s mission of ensuring the state is a leader and innovator in energy, infrastructure, health and safety, and industry.

“This bill modernizes the PRC to keep up with a rapidly changing environment,” Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces) said. “Because of new technologies and the needs of our rapidly changing economy, the PRC must set the stage for businesses and ratepayers to benefit from these changes, bringing lower costs, greater efficiency, and securing New Mexico’s economic leadership.”

“Good government is a responsive government,” Rep. Trujillo said. “I believe now is the time to implement a positive reorganization to the PRC’s structure to ensure its leadership, consistency, and expertise in decision-making to benefit our state well into the future.”  

In a 2017 study by the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI), New Mexico’s PRC was found to perform “little research regarding major issues like new industry developments, ratemaking, and integrated resource planning.” The NRRI concluded that a top priority should be to hire technical staff. 

Proposed changes to the PRC as outlined in House Bill 11 would result in several positive changes that ensure the installment and retention of technical experts to help commissioners navigate the complexities of the regulatory environment. Reforms include the appointment of key positions by the governor that are currently subject to high vacancies.

House Bill 11 has been assigned to the House Rules and Order of Business Committee pending a message from the governor.