Legislation in works could aid veterans, active duty troops

Two pieces of legislation Gov. Susana Martinez is trying to pass could help New Mexico veterans, active duty troops and military families and boost the state's economy, according to a news release from the governor's office.

Martinez announced Senate bill 96, aimed at providing a uniformed service retiree tax exemption, and Senate Bill 258, aimed at making it easier for military personnel and their spouses to obtain professional licenses.

Senate bill 96 would provide a 25 percent exemption on military pensions beginning in 2014, and phasing into a 100 percent exemption by 2017.

Military retirees living in New Mexico today are fully taxed on their pension income. According to a spokesperson from the governor's office, 25 other states offer an pension income tax exemption to military retirees.

Drake L. Davidson, a senior master sergeant who retired from the Air Force in January 2012, said if Senate bill 96 passes he could receive additional money not paid in taxes that could help him finance his children's' college education.

"It would affect me in a very positive manner," said Davidson, who was stationed at Cannon for nine years and now lives in Clovis. "The additional money saved would be fantastic for financial planning in the long run. It would go toward retirement."

Davidson said the extra money could also help him pay a few bills faster and pay his wife's student loans.

Alan Martinez, deputy cabinet secretary with the New Mexico Department of Veteran Services, said his department is having a tough time getting the bill to the senate finance committee.

"The problem with this bill is that economists are saying that there would be about a $20 million hit to the general fund," Martinez said.

"We're trying to get these legislators to see that we might lose money out of the income tax, but with this bill, we would be able to track military retirees who are going to fill high tech jobs like the jobs available at the spaceport. Also, we'll recapture that tax through the local gross receipts tax that people are going to be spending in the local community."

Senate bill 258 would provide reciprocity for occupational licenses for individuals who are already qualified or certified in another state and will help recent military and veteran transplants and their spouses find jobs in New Mexico without a significant delay, according to a spokesperson from the governor's office.

According to the spokesperson, 19 other states exempt military members, recent veterans and spouses licensed in another jurisdiction from a lengthy re-certification process.

Priscilla Swantner, a board member of the Cannon Spouses' Club, and an associate broker, has a real estate license she uses to sell real estate in New Mexico.

Swantner believes Senate bill 258 would greatly help spouses who hold licenses in other states. She said New Mexico only has reciprocity with a few states in the area of real estate licenses.

Swantner said it can take months for real estate professionals to take classes and exams to obtain a new license.

"The quicker licenses can be obtained, the faster we can put trained professionals into the local workforce," Swantner said. "Any time you have people working, it helps the local economy."

Swantner said obtaining a real estate license in New Mexico was difficult for her because classes she was required to take were not offered in Clovis.

She said her husband had to travel with her out of town to help care for their 4-month-old daughter. She said on another occasion she had to hire a nanny for three days.

Senate bill 258 went to the house judiciary committee Wednesday. To become law, both bills need to make it to the governor's desk before the legislative session ends noon Saturday.