Expanded Human Rights Act Passes New Mexico House
NMHD News:
SANTA FE — House Bill 207, which would expand the discrimination protections included in the New Mexico Human Rights Act, passed the House of Representatives Friday with a vote of 47-20.
The legislation would extend the scope of the New Mexico Human Rights Act, which was put in place in 1969 to help ensure that everyone in the state is protected from discrimination in employment, housing, accessing credit and public accommodation.
HB 207 clarifies that these protections apply to all state departments, agencies, institutions, political subdivisions – such as counties Read More
Legislative Roundup: 14 Days Remain In 2023 Session
Legislative RoundupTeacher of The Year: The House of Representatives voted unanimously Friday to honor New Mexico Teacher of the Year Tara Hughes of the Nye Early Childhood Center in Santa Fe with House Memorial 77.
Hughes told The New Mexican in October 2022 before becoming a teacher she worked as a carpenter and welder running the Santa Fe Opera stage crew. She taught stage operations and construction, gaining a passion for education.
While studying special education at New Mexico Highlands University, she worked as a student teacher in an autism-specific preschool Read More
New Mexico To End COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Courtesy/CDC
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced that today’s renewal of the COVID-19 executive order will be the final extension. It will remain in effect until March 31, 2023, and then will be allowed to expire.
“While we’re still seeing COVID cases, our preparedness and collaborative work have helped turn a once-in-a-century public health emergency into a manageable situation,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “We are working diligently across state agencies to make sure New Mexicans continue to be supported as federal COVID programs wind down.” Read More
Ozment: It’s Been A Privilege To Serve As Your Chair
By CAT OZMENT
Chair
Democratic Party of Los Alamos County
To Los Alamos Democrats,
It has been a privilege to serve as your Chair for the last four years. March 28 will be the end of my current term. I will not be seeking another term at this time, but I am proud of our accomplishments since 2019.
We have had consistently record breaking and/or top-three voter turnout in the state, while increasing the number of registered Democrats in Los Alamos County. With the hard work of new volunteers, we have improved access to party engagement by holding low-dollar fundraisers and centrally located meet Read More
Luján, Cramer, Manchin, Barrasso, Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation To Bolster Recreational Biking On Federal Lands
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) reintroduced the Biking On Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act to bolster outdoor recreation and biking on federal lands across the country.
As the outdoor recreation economy grows, this legislation capitalizes on New Mexico’s 21 million acres of rich landscapes and the vast federal lands across the United States to make bike trails more accessible. U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), John Curtis (R-UT) and Susie Lee (D-NV) Read More
Bill To Provide Free School Lunches Heads To Senate Floor
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
When it comes to school lunches, Alejandro Najera laid it out straight for the lawmakers.
Senate Bill 4, the fifth grader from East San Jose Elementary School in Albuquerque told the Senate Finance Committee Thursday morning, might mean school kids “have better lunches that taste fresher, better.”
SB 4 would provide funding for public schools to offer two free meals a day — breakfast and lunch — to all students, regardless of whether they can pay for the meals or not.
It also encourages districts to prepare healthier Read More
Legislative Roundup: 15 Days Remain In 2023 Session
Legislative RoundupHappy birthday, Mescalero: May marks the 150th anniversary of the designation of the Mescalero Apache reservation, and some senators want to honor its people.
Senate Memorial 46 honors the Mescalero Apache Tribe for being at the “forefront of the fight for tribal sovereignty at the state and national levels and to preserve its culture, language and connections to the homelands throughout southern New Mexico.”
Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, who introduced the memorial to members of the Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee on Thursday, Read More
County Council Action Taken Feb. 28, 2023
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Council hit the pause button on rolling out the bear-proof roll trash carts County wide during its regular meeting Tuesday night.
In a 4-1 vote, with Councilor Randall Ryti opposed, council agreed to stop County-wide distribution of the bear-proof carts for the year to fully evaluate how the carts that have already been distributed to residences in the North Mesa community perform during this year’s bear season. Residents can continue to request a bear-proof cart.
Ryti voted against the motion, saying he felt Read More
Nominations Open For 2023 Governor’s Awards For Excellence In The Arts
DCA News:
The New Mexico Arts Commission and New Mexico Arts, the state arts agency, are seeking nominations for the 2023 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts.
Nominations for the awards may include individual New Mexican artists currently working in any discipline who have demonstrated outstanding achievement; individuals who have consistently made significant or distinguished contributions to the arts in New Mexico; or businesses, nonprofits, or foundations with sustained involvement in and support for the arts.
Nominations will be accepted until 4 p.m. May 5.
Nominations Read More
Op-Ed: In Support Of Confirmation Of James R. Mountain
By LEAH MOUNTAIN
Daughter of Indian Affairs nominee James R. Mountain
Dear Chairwoman and Members of the New Mexico State Senate Rules Committee and to whom anyone else it may concern,
I am Leah Mountain and I am submitting this letter in support of the Confirmation of James R. Mountain for Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department. I am proud of Governor Lujan Grisham for having the courage to bring this nomination forward. I am proudly the daughter of James Mountain and the granddaughter of Jay Mountain, who also served as San Ildefonso Governor. I am a strong-willed, educated Read More
First Ever ‘Los Alamos Day’ At The Legislature March 8
The Roundhouse at 490 Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe. Post file photo
COUNTY News:
Officials with Los Alamos County are happy to announce the first “Los Alamos Day” at the Legislature March 8, 2023.
Several county departments will be represented alongside Los Alamos organizations UNM-Los Alamos, Los Alamos Public Schools, Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation, the Los Alamos Historical Society and Ski Pajarito.
All are invited to come of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to the Roundhouse at 490 Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe to learn more about what these organizations Read More
Cancelled: Tonight’s Transportation Board Meeting
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Transportation Board meeting scheduled for tonight, March 2, has been cancelled due to a lack of a quorum.
The next meeting will be held April 6. Read More
Bills To Improve Public Safety And Criminal Justice System Pass House Judiciary Committee
Lead Bill Sponsor Rep. Meredith Dixon
DPNM News:
SANTA FE — The House Judiciary Committee passed two bills today that would make communities safer and improve the way our criminal justice system functions.
House Bill 357 would establish a fund to help recruit and retain municipal and county law enforcement officers, as well as prosecutors and public defenders. Funds would go toward raises for current officers, relocation expenses for newly hired officers, and recruiting initiatives.
“Adding more officers to our local police forces is an impactful, necessary step we can take to make our Read More
Advocates For New Mexico Legislator Pay And Longer Sessions Remain Optimistic
Rep. Angelica Rubio
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
New Mexico lawmakers are still hoping to end their status as the only unpaid Legislature in the country before they adjourn for the year later this month.
While a resolution that would do this hasn’t passed either the House or Senate yet, supporters of a paid Legislature and other changes that they say would bring the body into the 21st century are still optimistic about getting at least some of their ideas across the finish line before the session ends March 18.
“Generally speaking, most legislators are in support of this issue,“ Rep. Angelica Read More
Bill To Raise Minimum Age To Buy Semi-Automatic Firearms Stalls In Committee … Isn’t Dead But On Life Support
Pro Tem Mimi Stewart
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
Santa Fe New Mexican
A proposal to raise the age to 21 to buy or possess semi-automatic firearms, including assault weapons, stalled Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee after a series of tie votes.
Although Senate Bill 116 isn’t dead, it’s on life support as the clock on the 60-day legislative session winds down.
“Right now, the bill remains at the prerogative of the chair,” committee Chairman Joe Cervantes said, (D-Las Cruces). ”This bill will be scheduled by me like any other bill.”
Cervantes, however, said time is running out with just over two Read More
Heinrich Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill To Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of Daylight Saving Time, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023. Led by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the bipartisan legislation would end the antiquated practice of changing clocks twice a year.
“More time for sunshine. Less time changing your clocks. Let’s pass the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act this Congress,” Heinrich said.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) was enacted in the United States following Germany’s 1916 effort to conserve fuel during World War I, and its period of observance has Read More
Bill To Curb Organized Shoplifting Soars Through House
Rep. Marian Matthews
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Looking for a way to deter what law enforcement officials call organized retail crimes, members of the House of Representatives voted 62-3 Wednesday to approve a bill imposing new and harsher penalties for such offenses.
House Bill 234 is “a very focused response to the disturbing and frightening explosion of shoplifting in our state,” Rep. Marian Matthews said, (D-Albuquerque), at the start of the House floor debate.
Shoplifters, who are often armed, “literally attack retail stores” while making off with a substantial number of
Governor Suggests Political Fight Over Gun Control In New Mexico Could Force Special Session
Family members of those killed by gun violence and members of New Mexico Crusaders for Justice listen to remarks Tuesday from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in the Capitol Rotunda. After one of the key bills in her gun control package was tabled earlier this week, Lujan Grisham told them it may take a special session to get the legislation over the finish line. Gabriela Campos/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
One of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s key public safety initiatives may be in trouble, and she hinted the battle over such legislation may force a special session. Read More
Senate Confirms David Dye Cabinet Secretary Of DHSEM
DHSEM Cabinet Secretary David Dye
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Wednesday, the New Mexico Senate confirmed Secretary-Designate David Dye as Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM).
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Dye as Secretary-Designate May 16, 2022.
“I’m honored to have been confirmed as Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management,” Secretary Dye said. “From training and preparedness, to disaster response and recovery to Homeland Security and the State Fire Marshal’s office, the Department of Read More
Legislative Roundup: 16 Days Remain In 2023 Session
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Constitutional revision commission: A bill to create a 21-member commission that would propose constitutional amendments to the Legislature cleared the Senate on a party-line vote Wednesday.
Republicans who voted against Senate Bill 308 said lawmakers were giving up their influence by allowing the governor to appoint the proposed commission’s 15 voting members.
“We’re giving … the governor, who’s only going to be here at a maximum 3½ more years if she doesn’t end up in Washington with some kind of appointment,” the authority to appoint Read More
