Governor, Parents Urge House To Pass HB 285 – The New Mexico Special Education Act
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today urged the House to vote on and pass House Bill 285, the Special Education Act. The bill has been awaiting a vote on the House floor for nearly a week.
“New Mexico families are tired of hearing what the special education system can’t do for their children, not to mention the courts, which have already mandated that we act now – not tomorrow – to get special education students the resources they need,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “Parents are tired of watching their children suffer, tired of watching educators not getting the Read More
Williams: Transparency In Government
By GREGORY WILLIAMS
FOG Board Member & Past President
Public officials and employees love transparency in the abstract. In reality: not so much.
Transparency in government is a crowd-pleasing election promise that gets set aside in practice. It happens in part because openness takes effort. It takes a daily commitment by public entities to provide access to records, to inform the public as to what is going on, and to allow participation. Transparency also invites scrutiny, and not all public officials and employees want that.
Open government also suffers because public officials often Read More
Heinrich Cosponsors Warren’s Secure Viable Banking Act To Restore Critical Dodd-Frank Protections
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) cosponsored the Secure Viable Banking Act, legislation led by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) to repeal Title IV of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank.
In 2018, Sen. Heinrich warned about the dangers of passing the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, which reduced critical oversight and capital requirements for large banks.
Sen. Heinrich, Read More
Canceled: Lodgers’ Tax Meeting For March 21, 2023
Critical Election Security Bill Passes New Mexico House
Majority Floor Leader Gail Chasey
NMDP News:
SANTA FE — The House of Representatives passed an important bill Tuesday to enhance and modernize election security and administration in New Mexico by a vote of 44-25.
Updates Senate Bill 180 would make to the New Mexico Election Code include:
- Allowing for electronic nominating petition signatures for primary ballot qualification
- Making home addresses of public officials confidential on election related and campaign reporting documents
- Specifying when the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) applies to election-related requests
- Creating
Legislative Roundup: 3 Days Remain In 2023 Session
Slow down: The House of Representatives, with almost no debate, moved rapidly today to approve a series of bills.
Among them:
- Senate Bill 224, which removes the requirement for noncustodial parents to pay $5 per month in medical support for children covered by Medicaid.
- Senate Bill 102, which lays out new provisions for drivers on roads with multiple lanes — including when a driver may use the left lane to pass. The measure includes a $250 fine for violations.
- Senate Bill 72, creating a fund for the Wildlife Corridors Act, which calls for building wildlife overpasses,
Domestic Dispute Involving Sen. Pirtle Ignites Water Cooler Talk At Roundhouse
Sen. Cliff Pirtle
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A day after salacious allegations of a domestic disturbance involving Sen. Cliff Pirtle became public, it seemed to be business at usual Tuesday in the Senate.
Pirtle, R-Roswell, who was the subject of an investigation by Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies Sunday stemming from a verbal fight with his wife, attended the Senate’s afternoon and evening floor sessions, as well as committee hearings.
The day before, Pirtle kept a low profile and missed most of the floor session as a story about the confrontation with his wife was about to Read More
New Mexico Governor Signs Safe Gun Storage Bill Into Law
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hugs Vanessa Sawyer, the grandmother of Bennie Hargrove, after signing House Bill 9 into law Tuesday. The legislation, dubbed the Bennie Hargrove Act after the Albuquerque 13-year-old shot and killed in 2021 by another student who took a gun to their middle school, holds gun owners liable if a firearm is stored “in a manner that negligently disregards a minor’s ability to access” the weapon. Javier Gallegos/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By Robert Nott
The Santa Fe New Mexican
With three bullets in her body, Alexis Molina said she could think of only two things as she heard Read More
Ringside Seat: Pirtle’s Worst Move Of Legislative Session
By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
As it turned out, Sen. Cliff Pirtle’s worst move of the legislative session wasn’t introducing a showboating bill to create a state holiday after the Super Bowl.
Pirtle, R-Roswell, stands accused of infidelity by his wife, Aysia. He isn’t talking, but speculation at the Capitol is rampant the woman linked to Pirtle is a legislative employee. If it’s true, he might face a Senate ethics investigation.
None of it will matter in the long run, except to people inside the Pirtles’ household. Their pain is only beginning.
To the outside world, this statehouse Read More
Legislative Salaries Still Possible, Extended Sessions Unlikely
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By ROBERT NOTT and DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexico
It was one of the top priorities for lawmakers during this year’s 60-day session: a resolution asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment “professionalizing” or “modernizing” the Legislature.
With just a few days to go, at least one of two proposals appears dead and the outlook of the other remains questionable.
“I’d say it’s dead,” Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces, wrote in a text message about House Joint Resolution 2, which would lead to 60-day legislative sessions Read More
Rep. Christine Chandler’s Bill Protecting Safety And Privacy For New Mexicans Seeking Name Change Passes Legislature
Bill sponsor Rep. Christine Chandler
STATE News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Senate passed House Bill 31 today, which removes a requirement that a notice of legal name changes be published in a newspaper, by a vote of 35-5. House Bill 31 now heads to the desk of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
The bill would help protect the privacy and personal safety of individuals seeking to change their names. It also would allow an individual of 14 years or older to petition the district court for a name change.
Additionally, it would prohibit courts from requiring notice to one or more legal parents of an applicant Read More
Governor Brokers Bipartisan Compromise To Revise New Mexico’s Medical Malpractice Law
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announcing the bipartisan agreement she brokered today with Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth and Senate Minority Floor Leader Greg Baca that would revise New Mexico’s medical malpractice law. Courtesy photo
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham brokered a bipartisan agreement today with Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth and Senate Minority Floor Leader Greg Baca that would revise New Mexico’s medical malpractice law.
Senate Bill 523 unanimously passed the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee Read More
Technical Difficulties Streaming Tonight’s Council Meeting
COUNTY News:
Officials with Los Alamos County indicate that due to technical difficulties, tonight’s County Council meeting at White Rock Fire Station 3, 129 N.M. 4, will not be live streamed on the County’s Legistar website.
The meeting will be televised on PAC 8; the public also is welcome to attend in person or join using this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82683176848.
The agenda for tonight’s meeting is available on the Legistar website. The County will post a recording of the meeting online later in the week.
The County staff apologizes for the inconvenience. Read More
Holland: Extended School Year Bill Advances, FY ’24 Budget Heads To House For Concurrence, Captive Audience Ban Stalls On House Floor
By WHITNEY HOLLAND
President
AFT New Mexico
We are down to just four and a half days left in the 2023 Legislative Session and both legislators and our union were busy throughout the weekend to continue to work to advance our supported legislation and ensure that we keep our legislation on track to the best of our ability.
We are thankful to report that our preferred approach to extended learning (HB 130) is continuing to advance, with a small amendment, and the FY ’24 budget (HB 2) heads back to the House or Representatives for concurrence with the changes made by the State Senate.
Unfortunately, a Read More
Some Good News From Final Week Of Legislative Session
Think New Mexico News:
As we head into the final five days of the session, we have a couple of exciting updates to share:
Social Security Inflation Adjuster Added to Tax Bill (HB 547)
As we explained in an email a few weeks ago, last year, after a three-year fight, Think New Mexico’s legislation was enacted to repeal the tax on Social Security income for middle and lower-income seniors: individuals with incomes under $100,000 or married couples with incomes under $150,000. However we were unable to include an inflation adjuster to increase those levels over time so that middle and lower-income Read More
Legislative Roundup: 4 Days Remain In 2023 Session
The Santa Fe New Mexican:Cannabis card OK’d: The House Health and Human Services Committee unanimously voted Monday to approve a bill changing the renewal period for medical cannabis patient cards to two years from three years and allowing a patient’s medical certification to be submitted at the same time.
Advocates for Senate Bill 242 said the change will make the program’s renewals more convenient for patients.
According to state Department of Health data, there were 105,617 New Mexico patients in the Medical Cannabis Program in February.
The bill goes next to the House floor for a vote. Read More
New Mexico Senate Floor Wrap For March 13, 2023
New Mexico Senate News:
As the countdown to sine die continues, the Senate convened for a floor session on March 13, 2023. Legislation considered today addresses the funding of juvenile correction facilities, land valuation, and the distribution of the Gross Receipts Tax. Additionally, the Senate passed legislation which:
Defends New Mexicans’ Civil Rights
On a vote of 23-15, the New Mexico Senate passed Senate Bill 426, creating the Civil Rights Division in the Office of the Attorney General. If signed into law, funds are appropriated to staff and implement the Civil Rights Division, Read More
Paid Family Leave Bill For New Mexican Employees Likely Dead After House Committee Vote To Table It
Bill co-sponsor Rep. Linda Serrato
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
State Rep. Linda Serrato had one question for the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.
“Is this the time for New Mexico to do paid family leave?” the Santa Fe Democrat asked.
She was disappointed with the response.
Two fellow House Democrats, Reps. Marian Matthews of Albuquerque and Patty Lundstrom of Gallup, joined the four Republicans on the committee in a 6-5 vote to table Senate Bill 11, the proposed Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.
With less than five days left in the legislative session, the move Read More
Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Deputies Respond To Domestic Dispute Involving New Mexico State Sen. Cliff Pirtle
Sen. Cliff Pirtle
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies investigated a domestic disturbance Sunday morning involving Sen. Cliff Pirtle, a leading Republican from Roswell, whose wife alleged she found him in a rented Santa Fe home with another woman, according to law enforcement documents.
Pirtle, who was largely missing from Monday’s Senate floor session, said in a brief interview it was a “personal matter”.
“I would appreciate privacy for my family as we work through this,” said Pirtle, who appeared emotionally distraught.
Just after 10 a.m. Sunday, Read More
New Mexico Unemployment Rate 3.5% In January 2023
Courtesy/NMDWS
NMDWS News:
New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in January, unchanged from December and down from 5.4 percent in the previous year. The national unemployment rate in January was 3.4 percent, down from 3.5 percent in December and down from 4.0 percent in January 2022.
Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 24,700 jobs, or 3.0 percent, between January 2022 and January 2023. The majority of gains came from the private sector, which was up 20,700 jobs, or 3.2 percent. The public sector was up 4,000 jobs, or 2.3 percent.
Most private sector Read More
