Gov Signs Six More Bills; 59 Still Awaiting Action

Gov. Susana Martinez just announced she has signed six more pieces of legislation into law, including a tax break that will benefit the operators of a nuclear fuel enrichment plant in southeastern New Mexico.

Today’s signings bring the number of bills endorsed by Martinez to a total of 18. So far, the governor has not vetoed any legislation approved during the 30-day session that ended Feb. 16.

However, 59 of the 77 bills approved by the Legislature are still awaiting final action with less than one week remaining until next week’s bill signing deadline.

Unsigned bills include a $5.6 billion state budget for the upcoming year, a package of statewide public works projects worth nearly $280 million and a corporate tax measure supported by Democrats (read about the politics surrounding that bill here).

Here’s a list of the bills signed today by Martinez:

SB 23 — Tax exemption for the sale of uranium hexaflouride

HB 18 — Transfers management of health care data to Department of Health

HB 19 — Transfers management of health care worker database to University of New Mexico

HB 95 — Authorizes loans or grants for 55 qualifying water projects statewide

SB 187 — Eliminates redundant offices in the Children, Youth and Families Department

HB 323 — Community provider payments