ALBUQUERQUE (Sept. 28, 2023) – Despite the 2023 Legislative Session’s bipartisan rejection of a costly mandatory paid family medical leave program, today, lawmakers on the Legislative Finance Committee will hear a presentation from proponents of the mandate. Ahead of the presentation, NFIB State Director Jason Espinoza urged lawmakers to keep small business owners in mind:

“According to a recent survey, inflation and the labor shortage are the two biggest obstacles to owning and operating a small business. It’s no wonder nearly 90 percent of New Mexico small business owners oppose this costly mandate. Exchanging custom, employer-provided benefits for an overly broad and loosely defined state-run mandate will result in fewer jobs and higher costs, both of which damage our communities. We’re asking lawmakers to keep these obstacles in mind and stand up for Main Street.”

Background:

In NFIB’s 2023 New Mexico member ballot, 89% of small business owners opposed the creation of this new mandate.

A burdensome, loosely defined, state-run paid family and medical leave program that would have been funded through a payroll tax on employers and a wage tax on employees was defeated on a bipartisan basis by the 2023 Legislative Session.

According to a recent NFIB survey, the labor shortage and inflation continue to be the top problems for small business owners. CLICK HERE to read the full survey.