After Heated Debate New Mexico House OKs Protections For Out-Of-State Abortion Seekers And Providers
Bill co-sponsor Rep. Andrea Romero
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The conflict between abortion rights advocates and those opposing the procedure ignited Friday on the House floor over a bill that would offer protections for patients and providers from out-of-state investigations.
Senate Bill 13 — which also stirred passionate debate in the Senate — predominantly protects medical providers of reproductive care and out-of-state patients from civil or criminal action by states where abortion is not legal.
The 38-30 House vote on SB 13 did not run entirely along partisan lines. Six Read More
Legislative Roundup: 2023 Session Ends Noon March 18
Constitutional amendments: Voters will consider two constitutional amendments on property tax exemptions for veterans next year.
The Senate gave unanimous approval Friday to two House joint resolutions.
Under House Joint Resolution 5, voters will consider an amendment to extend the current property tax exemption for veterans with disabilities who are considered 100% disabled, as well as the widows and widowers of those who are deceased, to veterans who are less than 100% disabled and their widows and widowers, according to a fiscal impact report.
“Right now, Read More
LAPS Quorum Notice: Community Information Session On Budget & School Calendar March 20
LAPS News:
Members of the Los Alamos School Board (LAPS) may attend the
Community Information Session on Budget and School Calendar 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, March 20 virtually on Zoom.
This meeting is open to the public.
Find the link to the Zoom meeting here.
A quorum may be present; however, no action will be taken. Read More
U.S. Senators Luján, Wicker, Young, Kelly Reintroduce Bill To Explore Collecting USF Contributions From Big Tech
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M), Roger Wicker (R-Miss), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) today reintroduced the Funding Affordable Internet with Reliable (FAIR) Contributions Act.
The legislation would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct a study into the feasibility of collecting Universal Service Fund (USF) contributions from internet edge providers.
“As Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, I’m fighting to move New Mexico closer toward 100 percent Read More
Governor Signs Bill Expanding School Learning Hours
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
With just a little over a day to go in the 2023 legislative session, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill into law expanding learning time for students in the state’s public schools.
House Bill 130 will mandate an increase in learning time in public schools to 1,140 hours, plus additional professional development time for teachers, while allowing districts some flexibility in when to add the hours.
“With COVID and parents and so many kids struggling, it’s a challenging environment to make sure kids are getting their focus Read More
Legislative Roundup: 1 Day Remains In 2023 Session
Cannabis charges: People convicted of marijuana-related crimes could request expungement of their records under a bill the Senate passed Thursday.
New Mexico’s Cannabis Regulation Act requires automatic expungement of cannabis-related crimes. But New Mexico courts have struggled to meet the requirement, saying it’s a big lift since there are as many as 155,000 cannabis-related criminal cases that need to be examined.
“The way that we set up this automatic expungement assumed that there were processes within our courts to really be able to identify those charges,” Read More
Rep. Dixon: Advanced Energy Technology Encourages Much Needed Innovation
By Rep. Meredith Dixon
Vice Chair House Appropriation and Finance
District 20 Bernalillo
The climate crisis is urgent, and we need to do everything we possibly can to reduce carbon emissions. So, when I see an opportunity to contribute to the fight, I’m all in.
My passion for addressing climate change as well as moving New Mexico forward economically is why I believe we need legislation to modernize our approach to energy production and reducing emissions. In my view, in order to create the necessary tools and incentives, we must be creative and willing to expand our Economic Development Department Read More
Retired New Mexico National Guard Colonel Donnie J. Quintana Unanimously Confirmed As Cabinet Secretary Of Department Of Veterans Services
Colonel Donnie J. Quintana
DVS News:
SANTA FE — Retired New Mexico National Guard Colonel Donnie J. Quintana was unanimously confirmed by the New Mexico Senate as the new cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services.
He had been serving on an interim basis since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham named him to fill the vacant DVS cabinet secretary position last November.
Secretary Quintana has already served more than 20 years in state government. Most recently, he was a local government division director at the New Mexico Department of Finance, where he oversaw coordination Read More
New Mexico Senate Floor Wrap For March 15, 2023
New Mexico Senate News:
The New Mexico Senate convened for two floor sessions on March 15, 2023 to consider legislation relating to funding for tribal education, streamlining the process to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License, and approve revisions to the General Richard T. Knowles Legislative Scholarship Program.
Additionally, the Senate passed legislation which:
Fixes New Mexico’s Medical Malpractice Insurance System
Following weeks of compromise and negotiation, the New Mexico Senate passed Senate Bill 523 on a strong bipartisan vote of 40-2. The measure amends the Medical Read More
Dr. Arsenio Romero Confirmed New PED Cabinet Secretary
Dr. Arsenio Romero
PED News:
Ready to “Steer the Ship” of New Mexico’s Education
SANTA FE – Dr. Arsenio Romero is New Mexico’s top education leader. It was made official Wednesday when lawmakers confirmed him as the cabinet secretary for the Public Education Department.
“Sec. Romero has lived the education experience as a student, teacher and leader,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “His expansive resume speaks for itself during this crucial moment as we increase student outcomes and elevate New Mexico education on the national stage. I look forward to seeing his continued innovation and Read More
Luján Leads Colleagues To Urge TitleMax To Increase Transparency On Title Loans
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, led a letter today signed by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) that urged the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to better protect consumers from the deceptive practices of the title loan industry.
In 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) fined TMX Finance (the parent company of TitleMax) and placed the company under a consent decree due to the company’s Read More
Bill Creating School-Based Health Centers Passes House
Bill co-sponsor Rep. Christine Trujillo
DPNM News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 397 Wednesday night, which would support development of school-based health centers in New Mexico public schools by a vote of 40-25.
School-based health centers provide physical and behavioral health services to students on or near school grounds. Among the services these health centers would provide are primary care, preventive care, diagnoses, treatment of chronic conditions, mental health care, crisis intervention, or referrals for additional treatment.
“Whether Read More
Mesalands Community College President Busch Resigns
Gregory T. Busch
Mesalands Community College News:
TUCUMCARI — Mesalands Community College Board Of Trustees has received the resignation of President Gregory T. Busch.
The formal resignation was received March 10 by members of the Mesalands Community College Board of Trustees.
The resignation was sent through legal counsel. Read More
Finance Chair: New Mexico Lawmaker Pay Unlikely To Pass
Sen. George Muñoz
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said the chances lawmakers will approve a proposal to ask voters to pay them are “very tough”.
Sen. George Muñoz, (D-Gallup), made the comment after a lengthy morning debate about the pros and cons of House Joint Resolution 8, which would allow voters to approve a constitutional amendment to create a citizens’ commission to study the issue of paying lawmakers. The commission would also suggest salary ranges for lawmakers, though the salaries would not kick in until July 2024.
Among other issues, Read More
Governor-Backed Bill To Reform Special Education In New Mexico Gets Mixed Reaction
Public Education Secretary Arsenio Romero
By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Public Education Secretary Arsenio Romero understands it can be difficult for families to navigate special education services for children with disabilities.
He knows because he’s lived it, Romero said. His daughter, now a seventh grader, has autism, and Romero has been advocating to ensure she has access to the accommodations she needs throughout her schooling.
Despite his nearly 30 years in education — as a classroom teacher, principal, superintendent and now the top education official in Read More
Legislative Roundup: 2 Days Remain In 2023 Session
Abortion clinic: Senate Republicans voted against a $1.2 billion capital outlay bill Wednesday over a $10 million appropriation proposed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to build a clinic near the Texas border that would perform abortions as part of its spectrum of reproductive health care.
“I believe that there are innocent human babies at risk,” said Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, who proposed an amendment to strike the appropriation, sparking a floor debate on a bill lawmakers are normally eager to support because it allows them to take money back to their districts Read More
House Sends $9.57B Budget To Gov. Lujan Grisham
Rep. Patty Lundstrom
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The state House of Representatives voted Wednesday to send a $9.57 billion budget bill to the governor for her approval.
On a voice vote, the chamber concurred with the Senate’s amendments to House Bill 2, the last procedural step to send the bill to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk. The Senate amendments include, among other changes, an additional $130 million in recurring spending for initiatives to address hunger and new investments in the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship college tuition fund.
But concerns were raised on Read More
Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill To Address Medical Malpractice Payout Caps In New Mexico
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
With less than 72 hours left in the 60-day legislative session, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill today designed to address concerns over looming changes to New Mexico’s medical malpractice law, which doctors and other providers have been pleading with lawmakers to resolve for weeks.
Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe described Senate Bill 523 as a hard-fought compromise between the New Mexico Medical Society and the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association that will allow independent clinics Read More
Video: Councilor Hand Discusses March 14 Worksession
Los Alamos County Councilor Melanee Hand presents highlights of Tuesday night’s work session during a meeting this morning at the Los Alamos Daily Post at 1247 Central Ave. Video by Clara Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
