SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO — Loop New Mexico has has reported that HB 288, the legislation that would have required “captions always on” on public TVs failed to get placed on the agenda for the Senate before this year’s short session of the legislature adjourned. The bill had gotten “do pass” recommendations by two state House committees and then by the full House.
The bill was an initiative of the Committee for Communication Access In New Mexico (CCAnm) and was patterned after that group’s ordinances that were previously passed by the city councils of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. As with the two ordinances, if the bill had passed and been signed into law, it called for statutory fines of up to $250 for a first offense and $500 for each subsequent offense.
Similar legislation was introduced in the Indiana legislature, sponsored by the Committee for Communication Access in Indiana. (CCAI) This bill also did not get out of committee. In both instances, it is planned to try again when the legislatures meet in 2024. A group in California is reportedly also working on a similar piece of legislation.
“Captions Always On” laws have successfully been passed in a number of cities that include Boston, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle. Captioning advocates are following the lead of Washington and Maryland in adopting such a statewide regulation.
The New Mexico bill would have required captions be turned on at all times during business hours on what are considered public TVs – including at restaurants, bars, gyms, etc.
