New Mexico 2019 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

SB 643 — PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE

Last action — action postponed indefinitely

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2019 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

68 added · 10 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised bill SB 643 increases the maximum liability limits for government entities and public employees under the Tort Claims Act. Specifically, it raises the cap on damages for property damage to $200,000 and for medical expenses to $300,000. This change is important because it ensures that victims of negligence by public entities can receive more substantial compensation, thereby enhancing accountability and support for those harmed by government actions.

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SENATE BILL 643 54 TH LEGISLATURE- STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSIO, 2019 INTRODUCED BY Joseph Cervantes 6 8 10 AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE.
SENATE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL 643 54TH LEGISLATURE - STATEOFNEWMEXICO- FIRST SESSION, 2019 4 6 8 10 AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE;
13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
INCREASING THE MAXIMUM TOTAL LIABILITY OF A GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNDER THE TORT CLAIMS ACT.
15 e t 17 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .213356.1
14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1.
Section 41-4-19 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1976, e t 17 Chapter 58, Section 17, as amended) is amended to read:
w l n d 18 "41-4-19.
MAXIMUM LIABILITY.-- = = 19 A.
Unless limited by Subsection B of this section, a l i a e r 20 in any action for damages against a governmental entity or a a t m m 21 public employee while acting within the scope of the employee's d r e 22 duties as provided in the Tort Claims Act, the liability shall c e s k 23 not exceed:
e a n b 24 (1) the sum of two hundred thousand dollars u [ ($200,000) for each legally described real property for damage .214422.1 SCONC/SB 643 to or destruction of that legally described real property arising out of a single occurrence;
(2) the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for all past and future medical and medically related expenses arising out of a single occurrence;
and (3) the sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) to any person for any number of claims arising out of a single occurrence for all damages other than real property damage and medical and medically related expenses as permitted under the Tort Claims Act.
B.
The total liability for all claims pursuant to Paragraphs (1) and (3) of Subsection A of this section that arise out of a single occurrence shall not exceed [seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000)] two million dollars ($2,000,000).
C.
Interest shall be allowed on judgments against a e e 17 governmental entity or public employee for a tort for which e e n d 18 immunity has been waived under the Tort Claims Act at a rate = = l ] 19 equal to two percentage points above the prime rate as a l r i 20 published in the Wall Street Journal on the date of the entry t e a t of the judgment.
Interest shall be computed daily from the m m 21 e d date of the entry of the judgment until the date of payment.
r e 22 c e r c 23 D.
No judgment against a governmental entity or e a n b 24 public employee for any tort for which immunity has been waived u [ under the Tort Claims Act shall include an award for exemplary .214422.1 - 2 - SCONC/SB 643 or punitive damages or for interest prior to judgment." - 3 - 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 e e 17 e e n d 18 = = l ] 19 a l r i 20 t e a t m m 21 e d r e 22 c e r c 23 e a n b 24 u [ .214422.1
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Action History

  1. action postponed indefinitely

  2. referred to Senate Judiciary Committee

  3. DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

  4. not printed Senate Conservation Committee

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 111 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (111)

111 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 643?
SB 643 is sponsored by Joseph Cervantes (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 643?
This bill died with 2019 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 643?
Track SB 643 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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