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Voting rights expansion bill heads to governor
A bill to expand voting rights and accessibility is on its way to the governor’s desk for her signature. The House of Representatives on Monday concurred with amendments made to House Bill 4 by a vote of 42-25, split along party lines. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has expressed her support for the voting rights bill […]
Lawmakers approve $9.57 billion budget over a windy weekend
On a windy Saturday in Santa Fe, lawmakers inside the Roundhouse discussed and passed bills on how to spend a historic $9.57 billion budget. The Senate Finance Committee approved a committee substitute bill by a 9-2 vote that lays out funding allocations from the nearly $10 billion pot. After an hour-and-a-half of debate on Sunday […]
Effort to protect abortion medical providers and patients passes Senate
Democratic lawmakers are continuing their push to get bills passed through the Roundhouse that protect abortion rights. Meanwhile, Republicans keep taking up hours of time to speak against the measures that are likely to pass nonetheless. There’s a week left in this year’s 60-day session. Hundreds of bills have yet to be heard on the […]
Lobbyists had safety plans and trainings for NM’s 2023 session, fearing misconduct by lawmakers
How well do you know the Roundhouse? Do you trust who you’re around? Where’s the closest exit? Are you alone? Do you feel safe? These are questions some lobbyists in New Mexico ask themselves to ensure their own safety while working during the state’s legislative session. Last year, a lobbyist filed a complaint against Sen. […]
Lawmakers pass legislation through the House specifying standards of political conduct
Legislative efforts to ensure professionalism and safety in the Roundhouse are making their way through Santa Fe. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 5 unanimously, with eight legislators excused and one absent representative not voting. This legislation reorganizes the Governmental Conduct Act, laying out professional political standards. It specifies that sexual acts […]
Bill to help stop minors from accessing firearms heads to NM governor
Gun safety legislation is on its way to the governor’s desk for a signature. Bennie’s Bill, which would make it a crime for allowing a firearm to be accessible to a minor, passed with concurrence through the House by a vote of 34-28 on Wednesday evening. The bill was named after Bennie Hargove, a middle […]
Bill protecting reproductive health care rights passes Senate after lengthy debate
Despite repeated failed attempts from Republican senators to alter a bill protecting abortion and gender identity health care rights, House Bill 7 is now one stop away from heading to the governor’s desk. It took an hourslong, back-and-forth, heated debate to pass the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care bill through the full Senate on Tuesday. […]
Disaster relief legislation has less than two weeks to make it through the Roundhouse
It seems like it could be smooth sailing for legislation that would get relief funds to wildfire disaster victims. Bipartisan support is showing up in committees for legislation that would aid New Mexico counties and local communities struggling to recover from devastating fires and floods that happened in 2022. It can take a while for […]
State committee approves $21M for fire relief funds in SW New Mexico and Ruidoso
A few minutes of discussions by the Senate Finance Committee on Friday led to legislation moving forward that would allocate more than $21 million to fire recovery efforts in southern New Mexico. Two bills are aiming to get disaster relief funds on the ground to help those affected by the Black Fire in southwest New […]
Lawmakers concerned bill to tighten state water commissioner requirements is too strict
The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission oversees stream systems in the state. Lawmakers want more advanced expertise and diversity standards for future commissioners. People that work with the commission say the proposal could cause issues for the state to find people to actually meet the new job requirements. Senate Bill 58 would compile a new […]
Bill proposes to take people to crisis centers for mental health aid instead of jails or hospitals
Instead of law enforcement taking people to jails or hospitals, New Mexicans could be sent to crisis triage centers to help with mental health needs. This will happen if House Bill 373 makes it through the Roundhouse. The legislation passed unanimously through the House Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday. That was the bill’s […]
Health care fund could grow specialty medical services in rural New Mexico
When Melinda Montoya worked as a physical therapist in Shiprock, she saw patients that drove hundreds of miles for specialized medical care. Medical services and access to them for people that live in rural New Mexico is another burden on top of everything else Montoya said her patients experience daily. “People barely can meet their […]