SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state legislators announced on Friday legislation to support working families and expand energy-efficient transportation across New Mexico.

HB 23, introduced by Reps. Natalie Figueroa, Willie D. Madrid, Anthony Allison and Javier Martinez, raises the Working Families Tax Credit to twenty percent, doubling the amount the WFTC supplements the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. An increase in the WFTC is a practical investment that will not only make a big difference for hard-working, low-income New Mexico families, but will also put millions more dollars into our local economies.

“The Working Families Tax Credit will help our working families, especially our children,” Rep. Natalie Figueroa, D-Albuquerque. “About 44 percent of kids in New Mexico will be impacted by this credit. As a teacher, I see firsthand just how far a little extra income in a family’s budget positively affects our kids.”

“I represent working families in rural southern New Mexico,” said Rep. Willie Madrid, D-Chaparral. “A majority of the families in our community live paycheck to paycheck. I’m proud to stand with Governor Lujan Grisham on the Working Families Tax Credit because this will directly help New Mexico families that need it the most.”

“The Working Families Tax Credit is simply smart and common sense legislation that will help families across New Mexico,” said Rep. Anthony Allison, D-Fruitland. “I represent working families in San Juan County and I know that this will directly help the families in my community and nearly 225,000 kids across New Mexico.”

“The Working Families Tax Credit puts $52 million back into the hands of New Mexico’s hard-working families,” said Rep. Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque. “This is smart common sense legislation that helps our working families while boosting our local economies across our state.”

HB 521, bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Angelica Rubio, Georgene Louis, Phelps Anderson, and Joy Garratt and Senator Pat Woods, expands electric transportation framework, more easily allowing for the construction of electric vehicle charging stations and the expansion of electric transportation in New Mexico. Expanding access to electric vehicles will lead to economic growth, as EV sales grew by 75 percent in New Mexico from 2017 to 2018, and contribute to the reduction of air pollution and greenhouse gases as production of renewable energy grows across the state.

“House Bill 521 brings New Mexico closer to a clean energy economy while ensuring that working families are not left behind” said Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces. “Not only does this help us transition to renewable energy but it also helps bridge the divide by giving everyday New Mexicans access to electric vehicles like electric busses. I’m proud to stand with Governor Lujan Grisham on this common sense bipartisan effort.”