Briefs

Bill at gov’s desk would lift ‘gag order’ for people filing legislative harassment complaints

BY: - March 17, 2023

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 […]

Burnt up remnants from what used to be a house sit in a forest full of dead trees.

A move to ban prescribed burns amid risky weather conditions is almost through the Roundhouse

BY: - March 15, 2023

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

BY: - March 14, 2023

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 […]

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez stands at a wooden podium. Another man in a dark suit looks on.

Senate approves plan to create state civil rights office

BY: - March 14, 2023

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

BY: - March 13, 2023

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

BY: - March 11, 2023

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

BY: - March 10, 2023

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

BY: - March 9, 2023

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 […]

Electrical transmission power line, beautiful sunset sky on background

Lawmaker says local choice energy bill needs a rewrite to get through Roundhouse

BY: - February 13, 2023

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 […]

Flowers, candles and balloons line a brick wall in memoriam of a middle school student killed by a fellow student. A person leans down to place more flowers.

New Mexico House passes firearm storage bill named after middle school student

BY: - February 10, 2023

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 […]

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks during her 2023 State of the State before the joint chambers of the New Mexico Legislature in Santa Fe. A large plaque that is the symbol for the state of New Mexico is behind her. Several people are also seated behind the governor. A bouquet of flowers sits to her left.

White House taps Indiana, New Mexico governors for federal-state council on national security

BY: - February 9, 2023

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

BY: - February 8, 2023

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 […]