Roundhouse Roundup: Days Remaining In Session – 8
Roundhouse Roundup
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Meat Inspection Act moo-ves on: A bipartisan bill that would give the state Livestock Board authority over the safety and quality of meat and poultry processed in the state received unanimous approval from the Senate.
“This is the No. 1 bill for the agriculture community this year,” said Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview, who was among the sponsors of Senate Bill 37.
Sen. Liz Stefanics, D-Cerrillos, said the bill has more than 21 sponsors on both sides of the aisle.
“This bill creates the Meat Inspection Act and authorizes the New Mexico Livestock Board to Read More
State’s Health Councils Facing Loss In Funds Provide Boots-On-The-Ground Approach
Ninety-year-old Anacita Tenorio works through tai chi forms during a class at the Santo Domingo Pueblo Senior Center on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. The class, taught by Eric Bailon, falls under the Health Organization Partnership Advisory Coalition — Santo Domingo’s health council. Jim Weber/The New Mexican
By GABRIELLE PORTER
The Santa Fe New Mexican
When Timothy Eric Bailon was hired in 2021 to run point on a program trying to cut back on the risk of elder falls in Santo Domingo Pueblo, a single memory came rushing back to him.
It was from 2016, when Bailon was working a stint as a tribal official on
Governor Appoints Brig. Gen. Jamison Herrera Cabinet Secretary Of New Mexico Department Of Veterans’ Services
Brig. Gen. Jamison Herrera
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Brig. Gen. Jamison Herrera as Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS). Herrera has served as the Acting Secretary of the department since September of last year, while concurrently holding the position of Deputy Adjutant General for the New Mexico National Guard.
“Secretary-designate Herrera has already proven his dedication to military service throughout his more than 34 years in the New Mexico National Guard,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “With Read More
County Clerk’s Office Receives Mobile Voting Unit
Los Alamos County Clerk Naomi Maestas on the landing of the new Mobile Voting Unit (MVU) delivered this morning to Pajarito Cliffs Site. The MVU will be outfitted and ready for voters to utilize in June for the Primary Election. The MVU was purchased with an Election Security Grant and is the second unit to be utilized in the state of New Mexico. The County Clerk’s Office received another grant to outfit the MVU, which will occur in the coming months. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Scene of the Portable Voting Unit delivered this morning to Pajarito Cliffs Site. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com Read More
LAHS Students Attend AP Day At The Roundhouse
Los Alamos High School students and staff pose outside of the Roundhouse with LAPS administrators and College Board staff for AP Day at the Legislature. Courtesy/LAPS
LAHS students met with Rep. Brian Baca to discuss the benefits of AP classes. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Twenty-six Los Alamos High School students, along with teachers Jon Frost, Catherine Puranananda and Alison Renner, and LAHS administrators Renee Dunwoody, Ryan Finn and Suzanne Montoya, were guests of Sen. Leo Jaramillo at the 2024 Legislature for AP Day Wednesday.
Los Alamos Public Schools was named the 2023 AP Small District Read More
Robinson: Vocational Education Bill Off And Running
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Trades, especially the construction trades, have been saying for years that they need more workers. Community colleges and unions are doing their best to make that happen, but funding is up and down.
A bill that easily passed the House last week would stabilize funding for apprentice and training programs in the state.
It lines up with the widespread public realization that college is not for everybody and legislative intentions to boost vocational education. Last month the combined House and Senate education committees prioritized Read More
New Mexico Senate Overhauls Proposed Changes To Cannabis Law, Sends New Version To House
Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, right, sponsor of a bill proposing changes to the state’s cannabis law, speaks with Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, on the Senate floor Feb. 5, 2024. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A measure intended to “clean up and address unintended consequences” of New Mexico’s Cannabis Regulation Act, according to its sponsor, faced a flurry of proposed amendments on the Senate floor Monday and underwent hours of debate.
Lawmakers’ wrangling over Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, put a Read More
New Mexico Congressional Delegation Welcomes Historic $16 Million Federal Investment In Homelessness Assistance
Congressional Delegation News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.),and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), are welcoming more than $16 million in federal funding to support New Mexico projects that provide housing assistance and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness.
The funds cime from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care program.
“We need to take an all-of-the-above approach to growing our affordable Read More
Bipartisan Law Enforcement Retention Bill Passes House
Rep. Art De La Cruz (D-Albuquerque)
NMHD News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico House of Representatives (NMHD) unanimously passed bipartisan House Bill 193 on Saturday, which outlines tenure-based bonuses to help retain and recruit law enforcement statewide.
“Rewarding law enforcement for their continued service is not just the right thing to do, it will help us retain quality officers and recruit new cops to the force,” said sponsor Rep. Art De La Cruz (D-Albuquerque).
“Making sure our police departments are well-staffed and fairly compensated is an important step to improving community safety Read More
Op-Ed: Our System Of Public Higher Education Cannot Wait Another Twenty Years For Action
By SATYA WITT
Principal Lecturer at UNM Albuquerque
Member of United Academics of UNM
Higher education in New Mexico is in state of crisis. Despite experiencing a boom in student enrollment, thanks to transformative opportunities like the Opportunity Scholarship, our growing student populations have fewer faculty to teach them because significant numbers of faculty are leaving higher education for better paying positions.
House Memorial 32 seeks to find a solution to this crisis, and requests that the Higher Education Department, in collaboration with the Legislative Finance Committee Read More
Heinrich Statement On National Security Supplemental
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after text of the bipartisan National Security Supplemental was released:
New Graduation Requirements Move Forward, Despite Dispute Over Financial Literacy
Rep. Andrés Romero, D-Albuquerque
By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A new set of high school graduation requirements won approval Monday from the Senate Education Committee — but not without disagreement over whether the state should require students to take financial literacy courses.
Sponsored by Rep. Andrés Romero, D-Albuquerque, and Rep. Ryan Lane, R-Aztec, House Bill 171 is designed to maximize student choice where possible, in hopes of alleviating the state’s high rates of chronic absenteeism.
But under the current version of the bill, that level of choice also means Read More
Josett Monette Makes History As First Indian Affairs Cabinet Secretary Not From New Mexico Tribe
The Senate Rules Committee endorsed the confirmation Monday of Josett Monette as secretary of the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department. Sen. Benny Shendo, D-Jemez Pueblo, said he was ‘truly honored’ to present Monette for confirmation. Daniel J. Chacón/The New Mexican
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Josett Monette made history Monday by becoming the first secretary of the state Indian Affairs Department who isn’t from a New Mexico tribe.
“I think that’s important for us to understand because the state of New Mexico is home to not only our 23 sovereign nations but also over 300 federally Read More
County Historic Preservation Advisory Board Meets Feb. 7
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB) will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7 in Room 110 in the Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave. and virtually on Zoom.
This meeting is open to the public.
Find the agenda to this meeting here.
Tourism Implementation Task Force To Meet Feb. 7, 2024
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Tourism Implementation Task Force will meet at noon Wednesday, Feb. 7 in Room 110 at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave., and virtually on Zoom.
This meeting is open to the public.
Find the agenda to this meeting here.
Ringside Seat: Hanging Offenses Weren’t Always What They Seemed
By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
As happens at this time every year, Republican lawmakers say they want to reinstate the death penalty in New Mexico.
Democrats, as always, have assigned the latest bill for capital punishment to a legislative graveyard. A House committee soon enough will give the measure an unceremonious burial.
Once the Republicans are back home and running for reelection, they will claim everyone would be safer if only the state could again execute New Mexico’s worst criminals.
Justice was never that swift or simple when the state had capital punishment, even in cases Read More
‘Affirmative Consent’ Bill Passes House, Heads To Senate
Rep. Liz Thomson
By NATHAN BROWN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A bill requiring state-funded colleges and universities to adopt “trauma-informed policies and … responses” in investigating sexual assault and domestic violence allegations is headed to the state Senate.
The House voted 44-17 a little after 3 a.m. Sunday to pass House Bill 151, with all the Democrats present in favor and the Republicans split. Sponsored by Rep. Liz Thomson, D-Albuquerque and several other Democrats, it would require all such sexual assault and violence policies to include an “affirmative consent standard” Read More
New Mexico Senate Confirms Jen Paul Schroer As Secretary Of Aging And Long-Term Services Department
Jen Paul Schroer
STATE News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Senate confirmed Jen Paul Schroer on Friday as the Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Aging & Long-Term Services Department with a vote of 29-1.
“As former Secretary for the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, I can tell you that Jen has the problem-solving skills, grit and compassion to improve the lives of seniors in every corner of New Mexico,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said.
“Secretary Schroer navigated our tourism department through an unimaginably turbulent time during the pandemic and led an extraordinary comeback Read More
New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority And DFA Seek Public’s Input Regarding Statewide Housing Needs
MFA News:
ALBUQUERQUE — In an effort to identify and prioritize housing issues in the state, the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) and the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) are actively seeking the public’s input.
MFA and DFA encourage New Mexicans to complete the State of New Mexico Community & Fair Housing Survey online, which takes 5-to-10 minutes.
This joint effort aims to assess affordable housing needs and community development goals that will inform the state’s 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and its fair housing analysis to help prioritize decisions Read More
Heinrich Announces New Rules From Inflation Reduction Act That Will Lower Costs For New Mexicans In 2024
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced today that two additional senators—U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)—have joined them as cosponsors of their bipartisan legislation, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA).
This legislation dedicates significant resources toward state-, territory-, and Tribe-led conservation work to support the long-term health of fish and wildlife and their habitats across America.
“I’m proud to have colleagues on both sides Read More
