Craig Brandt

This bill increases mandatory transfers into the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund to grow permanent government pre-K and childcare programs rather than empowering parents directly. CPAC opposes locking more taxpayer dollars into ever-expanding government systems instead of family-directed choice and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-20 by a vote of 35-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-12 by a vote of 66-3. The bill later became law.

This bill mandates a minimum wage for industrial revenue bond (IRB) projects, forcing private employers to meet government-set pay floors as a condition of investment. CPAC opposes wage mandates that kill jobs, distort the free market, and drive investment out of the state and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-21 by a vote of 23-15. The House passed this bill on 2025-02-17 by a vote of 41-26. The bill later became law.

This bill raises civil penalties for violations of the Pipeline Safety Act, exposing energy operators to steeper fines and greater regulatory risk. CPAC opposes ratcheting up punitive regulations that chill energy development and raise costs for consumers and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-06 by a vote of 26-14. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-21 by a vote of 45-15. The bill later became law.

This bill clarifies and broadens the role of certified nurse anesthetists, allowing them to practice more fully within their training and reduce bottlenecks in care. CPAC supports reducing unnecessary medical gatekeeping and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-15 by a vote of 29-2. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-21 by a vote of 64-0. The bill later became law.

This bill prohibits discrimination against 340B entities by restricting how drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers may treat participants in the federal 340B program. CPAC opposes heavy-handed regulatory dictates that interfere with private contracts and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-21 by a vote of 26-14. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-15 by a vote of 36-28. The bill later became law.

This bill revises the Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act to expand state regulatory authority and compliance requirements over discharges into state waters. CPAC opposes layering additional environmental red tape on job creators and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-02-26 by a vote of 25-16. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-19 by a vote of 43-25. The bill later became law.

This bill changes definitions in the Public Works Minimum Wage law, influencing how prevailing wages are calculated and applied on taxpayer-funded construction projects. CPAC opposes prevailing wage schemes that inflate costs for taxpayers and give unions artificial advantages and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-04 by a vote of 23-16. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-21 by a vote of 34-27. The bill later became law.

This bill broadens the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order framework, making it easier for the state to seize firearms from individuals without traditional due process protections. CPAC opposes red flag laws that erode Second Amendment rights and due process and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-17 by a vote of 23-15. The House passed this bill on 2025-02-25 by a vote of 41-27. The bill later became law.

This bill expands the Earned Income Tax Credit, increasing refundable payouts that function more like direct welfare spending than broad-based tax relief. CPAC supports tax cuts but opposes expanding refundable credits that grow dependency and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-20 by a vote of 36-1. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-15 by a vote of 40-27. The Governor vetoed this bill.

This bill authorizes physician assistants to complete and sign death certificates, streamlining the process and reducing burdens on physicians and families. CPAC supports practical scope-of-practice reforms that reduce bureaucracy and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-21 by a vote of 40-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-02-22 by a vote of 64-0. The bill later became law.

This bill modifies the Child Care Facility Loan Fund to expand financial assistance for childcare providers, further entrenching government-driven childcare systems. CPAC opposes expanding government financing schemes that crowd out private and faith-based childcare options and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-02-26 by a vote of 40-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-17 by a vote of 66-0. The bill later became law.

This bill establishes a NMFA Local Solar Access Fund to finance local government solar projects, steering public dollars into favored green energy infrastructure. CPAC opposes green energy subsidy schemes that politicize energy markets and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-20 by a vote of 24-16. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-01 by a vote of 43-22. The bill later became law.

This bill adds protections for military installations in the siting of energy projects, ensuring new facilities do not compromise national security or base operations. CPAC supports aligning energy development with military readiness and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-21 by a vote of 41-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-17 by a vote of 64-0. The bill later became law.

This bill establishes the State-Tribal Education Compact Schools Act, authorizing compact schools run in partnership with tribes as an alternative to traditional district schools. CPAC supports innovative public school alternatives that expand educational options and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-02-25 by a vote of 38-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-21 by a vote of 64-0. The Governor vetoed this bill.

This bill brings firearms-related commerce under the Unfair Practices Act, empowering the state and private litigants to sue gun manufacturers and dealers over how guns are marketed and sold. CPAC opposes backdoor attacks on the firearms industry that weaponize consumer protection law and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-18 by a vote of 21-18. The bill did not become law.

This bill grants property tax exemptions or favorable treatment to higher education housing facilities, shifting their tax burden onto other property owners. CPAC opposes narrow tax favors for government-backed projects instead of broad-based property tax relief and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-02-26 by a vote of 39-0. The House defeated this bill on 2025-03-21 by a vote of 23-38. The bill did not become law.

This bill increases taxpayer funding for "behavioral health" initiatives while expanding government oversight and control of mental health services. It risks creating inefficiencies and dependency on government programs. CPAC opposes the concept of "behavioral health" because it denigrates the human being, denies free will, and provides excuses for violations of individual autonomy under the guise of "medicine." CPAC opposed this bill The Senate passed this bill on 2025-02-14 by a vote of 37-5. The House passed this bill on 2025-02-20 by a vote of 42-23. The bill later became law.

This bill makes sweeping changes to probation and parole policies, including reducing penalties and supervision requirements for offenders. These changes could weaken accountability for those who violate the law and undermine public safety. CPAC opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-14 by a vote of 25-11. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-21 by a vote of 58-7. The bill later became law.