New Mexico Lawmakers Advance One Bill To Crack Down On Shoplifting, Table Another
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
News video footage of shoplifters aiming handguns at store security guards during crime sprees told the story.
Lawmakers who watched the footage, part of a KRQE newscast from last year, then acted to pass a bill aimed at stemming such shoplifting efforts.
On Friday the members of the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee unanimously approved House Bill 234, which would create new crimes of robbery for shoplifters using guns and allow stricter penalties for different shoplifting crimes committed Read More
Council To Hear Community Survey Results At Meeting Feb. 7
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County, in partnership with its contractor National Research Center (NRC), will present the results from the 2022 National Community SurveyTM 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the County Council meeting.
The meeting is open to the public in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave., or virtually. Information on how to join the meeting via Zoom is available on the Los Alamos County calendar.
Los Alamos officials thank residents for their time and valuable feedback. The survey is designed to provide a comprehensive picture of citizen perspectives on community livability. County Read More
Governor Announces Introduction Of Bipartisan Legislation Prohibiting ‘Straw Purchases’ Of Firearms In New Mexico
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and House Minority Leader Ryan Lane on Friday announced the introduction of House Bill 306, legislation prohibiting so-called “straw purchases” of firearms and making the crime a fourth-degree felony in New Mexico.
The legislation would make it a fourth-degree felony to knowingly purchase a firearm for another person who cannot lawfully own a firearm or who intends to transfer the firearm to a person who plans to use the firearm in furtherance of a felony or misdemeanor.
“We know that guns are far too often making their way into the wrong hands, Read More
Call For Democratic Party Of Los Alamos 2023 Ward And County Central Committee Meetings
By CATHERINE OZMENT
Chair
Democratic Party of Los Alamos County
To all Los Alamos County Democrats,
Pursuant to the official Call for the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) Spring 2023 State Central Committee (SCC) meeting, this is the official Call for the Democratic Party of Los Alamos County 2023 Ward and County Central Committee Meetings.
We are required by DPNM Rules to hold Ward Meetings and a County Central Committee (CCC) meeting in odd-numbered years for the purposes of electing county party officers and DPNM SCC members to represent our county at the state level.
Since 2020, we have Read More
Legislative Roundup: 42 Days Remaining In 2023 Session
Legislative Roundup
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Open primaries: Open primaries for unaffiliated voters could be coming soon to an election near you, although fully open primaries and ranked-choice voting appear to be a bridge too far for many senators.
The Senate Rules Committee voted 8-1 Friday morning to give a “do pass” recommendation to Senate Bill 73, which would let “decline to state” voters pick which party’s primary they want to vote in.
However, the committee voted 5-4 to table Senate Joint Resolution 7, which would put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to switch to a system of nonpartisan Read More
Heinrich, Luján Bill Provides Historic, Permanent Investment In Home Care For Seniors, People With Disabilities
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are original cosponsors of legislation to expand access to home and community-based services for older adults, people with disabilities, and injured workers, while increasing pay and improving benefits for the caregivers who provide this life-sustaining care.
“In New Mexico and across the country, seniors and people with disabilities grapple with accessing affordable, high-quality care,” Heinrich said. “This is a struggle that so many families experience, often feeling Read More
Shiv: Support Children’s Health Through Public Health Climate Resiliency Act
By DIVYA SHIV
Research and Policy Analyst
New Mexico Voices for Children
In the Land of Enchantment, families should be able to enjoy our state’s natural beauty without worrying about whether worsening environmental conditions will harm their children’s health.
Unfortunately, children are especially vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, which include extreme heat, poor air quality, drought, flooding, and wildfires. However, this legislative session, lawmakers have the opportunity to protect New Mexicans from these threats to public health by passing the Public Health Read More
House Bill 7 Would Block Local Anti-Abortion Ordinances
Leon Nall of Floyd speaks against House Bill 7, which would block municipalities and counties from outlawing abortion, today before the House Health and Human Services Committee. Luis Sánchez Saturno/The Santa Fe New Mexican
Molly McClain speaks today before the House Health and Human Services Committee about House Bill 7. The bill advanced 7-3 on a party-line vote. Luis Sánchez Saturno/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A bill that would prohibit municipalities and counties from outlawing abortion — an issue that helped shape last year’s gubernatorial election Read More
Heinrich Announces Committee Assignments For 118th Congress, Set To Chair Joint Economic Committee
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today announced his new committee assignments for the 118th Congress, including being selected to be the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee.
This will be Senator Heinrich’s second Congress serving on the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations and his sixth Congress serving on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee.
All committee memberships have been agreed upon Read More
Voting Bill Draws Mixed Opinions At Legislative Hearing
Donna House of Rio Arriba County and a member of the Navajo Nation, spoke in support of House Bill 4, which would expand voting rights, on Friday before the House Government Elections and Indian Affairs Committee. Luis Sánchez Saturno/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By DANIEL CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Three of New Mexico’s 33 county election officials testified Friday against a bill advocates say would expand the right to vote and ensure free and fair elections in the state.
Rio Arriba County’s elections chief and the Republican clerks of Lea and Union counties voiced various concerns Read More
N.M. Delegation: $485,000 In Federal Funding To Support 19 Arts Organizations Across New Mexico
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Reps Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) are welcoming a total of $485,000 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support public engagement strategies for 19 arts organizations across New Mexico.
“New Mexico’s vibrant arts community fuels our state’s culture, traditions, and economy,” Heinrich said. “These federal investments will support talented creatives across our state Read More
Common Cause: ‘Voting Rights Act Long Overdue’
CCNM News:
“For far too long we have been disenfranchising people in New Mexico because of various obstacles to both registration and voting,” said Common Cause New Mexico (CCNM) Executive Director Mario Jimenez. “That includes our Native American communities which experience challenges that others do not.”
House Bill 4 sponsored by Reps. Javier Martinez and Gail Chasey(D-Bernalillo), Sen. Katy Duhigg (D-Bernalillo), Rep. Wonda Johnson (D-McKinley and San Juan) and Rep. Raymundo Lara (D-Don Ana) has been dubbed the state Voting Rights Act. It will be heard today, Feb. 3, in House Gov., Read More
Energy Bill Pits Local Control Against Large-Scale Planning
Bill Sponsor Sen. Carrie Hamblen
By NICHOLAS GILMORE
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Some local governments and climate advocacy groups are pushing a bill that could open up energy control to localities in the state.
Tuesday, Santa Fe County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution in support of Senate Bill 165, the Local Choice Energy Act, which was introduced in the state Senate last month by Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D-Las Cruces. Bernalillo County commissioners also showed support for the bill by unanimously passing a similar resolution in January.
A coalition of grassroots advocacy groups Read More
Billion-Dollar Tax Rebate Bill Sails Through 1st Committee
Senate Bill 10 Co-sponsor Sen. Benny Shendo
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Some 875,000 New Mexicans would get a cut of the state’s record revenues under a bill that received unanimous approval during its first legislative committee hearing Thursday.
Senate Bill 10, a priority of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, would appropriate $1 billion to provide a one-time tax rebate of $750 for single filers and $1,500 for joint filers.
“Taxpayers’ budgets are stretched thin due to inflation that includes a higher cost of food, heating, gas and other basic necessities,” one of the sponsors, Read More
Legislative Roundup: 43 Days Remaining In 2023 Session
Legislative Roundup
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Solar power: A bill that would require all new residential construction to include photovoltaic systems and receptacles for electric vehicles eked out of the Senate Conservation Committee on a 4-3 vote Thursday.
“As we’re moving toward electrifying everything, we ought to put our money where our mouth is, so to speak,” said Sen. Bill Soules, D-Las Cruces, who is sponsoring Senate Bill 77. “This does not require retrofitting.”
Under the bill, the photovoltaic system would have to provide at least one watt per square foot of heated area, which Soules Read More
Ringside Seat: No jackpot – Another Senator Wants To Weaken Records Law
By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Too often I criticize state legislators for being self-interested and self-absorbed. Many have such generous spirits they throw around tax exemptions like green confetti.
For instance, lawmakers gave a break to retailers who sell lottery tickets. These transactions can be deducted from gross receipts taxes.
Lotteries are a bad bet. But because the state operates a lottery, legislators feel duty-bound to perpetuate the numbers game. Exempting retailers from a tax encourages them to continue marketing those shiny scratch tickets on behalf of the Read More
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández Appointed Ranking Member Of Subcommittee On Indian And Insular Affairs For The 118th Congress
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández announced she was appointed as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, after serving as Chairwoman of the Subcommittee during the 117th Congress.
The subcommittee is a part of the House Committee on Natural Resources and oversees all matters regarding American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and insular areas. The Congresswoman will use her role on the Committee to advocate on behalf of New Mexico’s Tribes and Pueblos. Leger Fernández will also work and examine issues related Read More
Albuquerque Sting Puts Dent In ‘Organized Retail Crime’
Crime Bill Sponsor Rep. Marian Matthews
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
ALBUQUERQUE — It took an hour of waiting to get the first one.
The suspect exited out the side door of a Kohl’s store with a black duffel bag full of shoplifted clothing and shoes. But before he could make a getaway, he was apprehended by patient Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who pounced and quickly placed him in handcuffs.
Within another two hours, deputies nabbed five more shoplifters outside the store and a nearby Home Depot in the northwest section of Albuquerque.
More arrests were expected later Read More
LAPS: Ride The Bus Day 2023 Is Wednesday Feb. 8
Get on the bus, Gus! And Emma, and David and all students eligible to ride the school bus. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools is encouraging all eligible students to ride the school bus to or from school on Wednesday, Feb. 8 as part of “Ride the Bus” Day. This initiative not only helps the environment, but also funds the LAPS Transportation Department. The goal is to have 1,000 riders.
Students enrolled in the 3Y preschool program will have both morning and afternoon sessions just like a regular school day. Students in the 4Y preschool will be dismissed at noon with the elementary Read More
NM Legislators Introduce Paid Family & Medical Leave Act
Rep. Christine Chandler
PFML News:
SANTA FE — The Paid Family and Medical Leave Coalition is celebrating today the introduction of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA) at the 2023 New Mexico Legislature, sponsored by State Sen. Mimi Stewart, Sen. Michael Padilla, Rep. Christine Chandler, Rep. Lisa Serrato and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero.
The PFMLA would establish the Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) Fund, administered by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS). The Fund would be paid for through employee and employer contributions. Individuals who need Read More
