Jay Block, a senator from New Mexico, said that he earned an "A" rating for advancing business-friendly legislation and emphasized his ongoing support for small businesses. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
"I am honored to receive my "A" grade from the New Mexico Business Coalition," said Jay C Block, New Mexico State Senator from 12th District (R). "This past session, I did my best to pass pro-business bills and kill bad bills for business. Small businesses are the foundation of our economy. I will always back them up."
In the 2025 legislative session, the New Mexico Senate passed several bills impacting small businesses, including HB 2, the General Appropriation Act, which allocates funding for economic development initiatives. According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the session concluded on March 22, 2025, with debates on legislation affecting small business operations. The NFIB highlighted efforts to oppose bills they deemed harmful to small businesses and emphasized the importance of supportive policies for economic growth.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2024 profile, small businesses in New Mexico played a significant role in job creation, contributing a net increase of 17,884 jobs and accounting for 87.7% of the state's total job growth. The report also noted that 7,411 new establishments opened while 6,777 closed, resulting in a net gain of 634 businesses. These figures underscore the vital contribution of small businesses to New Mexico's economy.
In the 2024 State Business Tax Climate Index by the Tax Foundation, New Mexico ranked among the top states for property tax climate, indicating a favorable environment for businesses in this category. However, the state's overall business tax climate ranking was less competitive, suggesting areas for improvement to enhance small business friendliness. These rankings provide insight into the state's economic landscape and its impact on small businesses.
Block began serving as the New Mexico State Senator for District 12 on January 1, 2025, representing parts of Bernalillo and Sandoval counties. Prior to his senate role, Block served as a Sandoval County Commissioner from 2016 to 2024 and is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with experience in nuclear weapons and a combat tour in Afghanistan. His legislative focus includes business policy, as evidenced by his sponsorship of bills aimed at reducing tax burdens for small businesses.
