Terri Cole, President and CEO of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, recently discussed legislative progress in New Mexico during an appearance on the Albuquerque Journal's Business Outlook podcast. Joined by Adam Silverman, President of NAIOP New Mexico, they addressed issues at the Roundhouse. A key focus was House Bill 8, a six-bill crime package prioritized after last summer’s special session on crime did not yield legislation.

Cole expressed support for measures within the package such as the criminal competency bill and increased penalties for fentanyl trafficking. However, she emphasized the need for further action: “There’s a lot that we can still do. We have about seven bills that we’re going to be pressing hard on,” she stated. These include more severe penalties for juvenile offenders or felons illegally possessing firearms.

Additionally, Cole was featured in a KOB-TV story regarding the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, now renamed by Rep. Christine Chandler as the Welcome Child and Family Wellness Leave Act. This proposal allows all New Mexico workers up to six weeks of paid leave for various personal circumstances while requiring contributions from both employees and employers to a new state fund.

Commenting on this bill, Cole remarked: “this bill still imposes a tax increase on employers and on every worker in the state.”