Briefs
Bill at gov’s desk would lift ‘gag order’ for people filing legislative harassment complaints
If someone is accused of harassment in the Legislature, they can speak up about it. The person who files a complaint about it can’t. Legislation that would change that is now awaiting action from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Senators night passed House Bill 169, Disclosure of Legislative Ethics Complaints, by a 34-2 vote on Thursday […]
A move to ban prescribed burns amid risky weather conditions is almost through the Roundhouse
Amid rapid-fire passage of bills through the House of Representatives on Tuesday, lawmakers passed legislation that would put a halt on prescribed burns whenever the National Weather Service puts out alerts about severe weather conditions. The House of Representatives unanimously passed Senate Bill 21 on Tuesday. Next, the Senate has to agree with amendments made […]
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 […]
Senate approves plan to create state civil rights office
The New Mexico Senate has honored a request by the state’s top prosecutor to create a new state agency devoted to civil rights. Senate Bill 426 would create the first-ever civil rights division inside the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General Raúl Torrez asked Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces) to carry the bill. The […]
Lawmakers revive tenant protections bill
A proposal to strengthen protections for tenants facing eviction in New Mexico was resurrected on Saturday. House Bill 6 would give tenants more time to catch up on rent before being evicted, along with the opportunity to avoid getting kicked out if they can pay what is owed. The legislation had died on Friday because […]
Committee tables bill that would have given tenants more time to catch up on rent
A bill that would have strengthened protections for tenants facing eviction in New Mexico died on Friday in its second committee hearing. House Bill 6 would have changed the state’s landlord-tenant laws to give tenants more time to catch up on rent before being evicted, and give people the opportunity to avoid getting evicted if […]
Proposal to create permanent renewable energy office headed to governor’s desk
The New Mexico state agency tasked with managing state-owned lands could have a permanent division devoted to renewable energy if Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs into law a proposal passed by the New Mexico Legislature on Thursday. House Bill 95 would formally establish an office of renewable energy within the New Mexico State Land Office. […]
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 […]
Lawmaker says local choice energy bill needs a rewrite to get through Roundhouse
It could be a long road ahead for legislation that aims to give New Mexicans a choice about where their electricity comes from. Sen. Carrie Hamblen (D-Las Cruces) is sponsoring the Local Choice Energy Act. It would allow tribal or local governments to enact programs that would let people choose local energy providers over investor-owned […]
New Mexico House passes firearm storage bill named after middle school student
The New Mexico House of Representatives on Thursday passed a measure meant to prevent gun violence by young people using firearms that adult gun owners didn’t secure. House Bill 9 sponsored by Rep. Pamelya Herndon (D-Albuquerque) would make it a misdemeanor to negligently allow a child access to a firearm, and would make it a […]
White House taps Indiana, New Mexico governors for federal-state council on national security
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Thursday the appointment of Govs. Eric J. Holcomb, an Indiana Republican, and Michelle Lujan Grisham, a New Mexico Democrat, to a special bipartisan board that strengthens the federal and state partnership on matters pertaining to national security. The Council of Governors consists of 10 members selected by the president […]
Black Fire legislation introduced that would send disaster funds to southern NM
Dealing with massive wildfire damage many can’t afford to repair, Black Fire victims in southern New Mexico could finally see some recovery money if a new legislative proposal gets passed. Sens. Crystal Diamond (R-Elephant Butte) and Siah Correa Hemphill (D-Silver City) introduced a Black Fire Recovery bill on Friday, Feb. 3, that would set aside […]