House Passes Rep. Jeff Steinborn's Measure to Require Webcasting of Interim Committees

Today the New Mexico House passed House Joint Memorial 15, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces), to require audio and video broadcasting of legislative interim committees beginning this year. HJM 15, which passed today by a margin of 62-2 with only Reps. Eliseo Lee Alcon (D-Milan) and Andrew Barreras (D-Tome) voting no, now heads to the Senate for consideration. A provision that would have required archiving of the webcasts was deleted by an amendment sponsored by Rep. Ken Martinez (D-Grants), the House Majority Leader.

“Today the House took the next step in providing full transparency of the legislative committee process," Rep. Steinborn said in a statement released by House Democrats. "Interim committees play an important role in the legislative process and take place all over the state. Webcasting technology is needed to expand the participation of both legislators and interested citizens.”

HJM 15 directs the Legislative Council Service to begin deploying webcast technology to interim committees beginning this year. Interim committees meet between legislative sessions and are comprised of both Senate and House members. These committees meet all over the state, including the State Capitol. There is currently no rule or requirement providing direction for establishing webcasting of interim committees.

Earlier in the session, Steinborn passed HR 2 to start broadcasting committee meetings during the legislative sessions. This measure has gone into effect and citizens can watch the committee proceedings at www.nmlegis.gov.