New Mexico House Republicans have declared their opposition to House Bill 14 (HB14), a Democratic-backed proposal that seeks to establish a new state-earned income tax credit and potentially increase taxes on severance industries. This announcement was made through a press release on March 15, 2025.
According to the New Mexico Legislature, HB14 aims to replace the existing Working Families Tax Credit with a new Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The bill proposes tiered benefits based on income and dependents, offering refundable credits with rates up to 13.5% for families with three or more children. It also plans to phase out benefits as income rises and expand eligibility to individuals previously excluded from the federal EITC due to identification or age restrictions. Adjustments for inflation are set to begin in 2026.
"The problem isn’t that the people are taxed too little, it’s that the government spends too much," said Representative Jonathan Henry, quoting President Ronald Reagan.
House GOP Leader Representative Gail Armstrong expressed concerns over the legislative session's impact on businesses in New Mexico. "This session has been marked by attempt after attempt to strangle New Mexico’s businesses and take money out of the pockets of hard-working New Mexicans. In our state, the Democrats punish you for working hard. This is just one of many bills that limits opportunities for New Mexicans and kills businesses," Armstrong said.
Representative Elaine Sena-Cortez highlighted alternative approaches that could benefit residents without increasing taxes. "We could have done this in a way that would have benefited all New Mexicans without raising taxes. We have a historical budget surplus that we could use to help the people of our state. I proposed eliminating income tax across the board, yet Democrats killed the bill. It’s time to support New Mexicans instead of spending their money frivolously," Sena-Cortez said.
The New Mexico House Republicans emphasize reducing government size, promoting individual responsibility, and protecting personal freedoms. Their platform includes preserving Second Amendment rights, addressing economic and infrastructure issues, empowering local authorities, enhancing penalties for firearm-related crimes, and opposing gun ownership restrictions for law-abiding citizens.
