HB 53

                                1  HOUSE BILL 53
                                2     57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026
                                3  INTRODUCED BY
                                4  Mark B. Murphy and Kathleen Cates and John Block
                                5  and Tanya Mirabal Moya and Angelita Mejia
                                6
                                7
                                8
                                9
                                10  AN ACT
                                11   RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; ESTABLISHING THE NEW MEXICO-
                                12   IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION.
                                13
                                14   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
                                15        SECTION 1.    [NEW MATERIAL] NEW MEXICO-IRELAND TRADE
                                16   COMMISSION--MEMBERSHIP--DUTIES--ANNUAL REPORT.--
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                                17  A.   The "New Mexico-Ireland trade commission" is
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                                18   established and administratively attached to the economic
                                19   development department.
                                20  B.   Members of the commission shall include the
                                21   director of the division of international trade of the economic
                                22   development department or the director's designee and the
                                23   following members who have knowledge of or involvement in
                                24   organizations that promote Irish affairs or have interest in
                                25   the well-being of trade relations between New Mexico and
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                                1    Ireland and are appointed as follows:
                                2  (1)   three members appointed by the president
                                3    pro tempore of the senate;
                                4  (2)   two members appointed by the minority
                                5    floor leader of the senate;
                                6  (3)   three members appointed by the speaker of
                                7    the house of representatives;
                                8  (4)   two members appointed by the minority
                                9    floor leader of the house of representatives; and
                                10  (5)   six members appointed by the governor,
                                11   including:
                                12  (a)   one member from a state institution
                                13   of higher education;
                                14  (b)   one member who is a member of an
                                15   Indian nation, tribe or pueblo;
                                16  (c)   one member who is involved with a
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                                17   New Mexico agricultural business;
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                                18  (d)   one member who is involved with a
                                19   New Mexico oil or gas energy business; and
                                20  (e)   two members of the public who are
                                21   members of different political parties and who represent Irish-
                                22   American communities or interests in New Mexico.
                                23  C.   Appointments to the New Mexico-Ireland trade
                                24   commission shall be made to stagger the terms of the members so
                                25   that:
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                                1  (1)   the terms of two of the initial members
                                2    appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate and one of
                                3    the initial members appointed by the minority floor leader of
                                4    the senate shall be for two years; and the terms of the
                                5    remaining initial member and all subsequent members appointed
                                6    by the president pro tempore of the senate and the remaining
                                7    initial member and all subsequent members appointed by the
                                8    minority floor leader of the senate shall be for four years;
                                9  (2)   the terms of two of the initial members
                                10   appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and
                                11   one of the initial members appointed by the minority floor
                                12   leader of the house of representatives shall be for two years;
                                13   and the terms of the remaining initial member and all
                                14   subsequent members appointed by the speaker of the house of
                                15   representatives and the remaining initial member and all
                                16   subsequent members appointed by the minority floor leader of
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                                17   the house of representatives shall be for four years; and
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                                18  (3)   three of the initial members appointed by
                                19   the governor shall be appointed for two years and three shall
                                20   be appointed for four years, and all subsequent appointments by
                                21   the governor shall be for four-year terms.
                                22  D.   Appointments shall be made not later than ninety
                                23   days following the effective date of this 2026 act.     Vacancies
                                24   shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment.
                                25  E.   The commission may accept gifts, grants,
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                                1    donations, money from fundraising activities, bequests and
                                2    other forms of voluntary contributions to carry out the
                                3    purposes of the commission.
                                4  F.   The commission shall:
                                5  (1)   annually elect a chair and vice chair from
                                6    among the commission's members;
                                7  (2)   meet virtually or in person at least once
                                8    annually and at the call of the chair;
                                9  (3)   work to advance bilateral trade and
                                10   investment between New Mexico and Ireland with emphasis on the
                                11   technology, agricultural and energy sectors;
                                12  (4)   initiate joint action on policy issues of
                                13   mutual interest between New Mexico and Ireland;
                                14  (5)   promote business and academic exchanges
                                15   between New Mexico and Ireland;
                                16  (6)   encourage mutual economic support between
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                                17   New Mexico and Ireland;
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                                18  (7)   encourage mutual investment in the
                                19   infrastructure of New Mexico and Ireland; and
                                20  (8)   on or before December 1, 2027 and each
                                21   year thereafter, submit to the governor, the president pro
                                22   tempore of the senate, the minority floor leader of the senate,
                                23   the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority floor
                                24   leader of the house of representatives and the secretary of
                                25   economic development a report that includes the commission's
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                                1    findings, results and recommendations.
                                2  G.   The division of international trade of the
                                3    economic development department shall provide staff to the New
                                4    Mexico-Ireland trade commission as required to fulfill the
                                5    purposes of the commission.
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