House Of Representatives Passes Public Safety Bills With Strong Bipartisan Support
NMDP News:
SANTA FE — The House of Representatives passed two important public safety bills with strong bipartisan support.
Senate Bill 3 makes it easier to proactively intervene and direct someone into treatment if they are suffering from severe mental illness and pose a high risk of harming themselves or others. The bill passed by a vote of 58-10.
Under current statute, it can be difficult to direct individuals who may be a danger to themselves or others into treatment, unless they have already caused serious bodily injury to themselves or others, or have experienced repeated hospitalizations Read More
Legislative Roundup: 11 Days Left In Session
Father Lucas Grubbs, executive director of the New Mexico Conference of Churches, center, speaks during a news conference where faith leaders pushed for passage of Senate Bill 17. The bill would ban certain dangerous weapons and put a variety of new regulations on gun sellers, including a minimum age and background checks for workers. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
Santa Fe New Mexican Staff Report
Senate shenanigans: As the clock winds down at the state Capitol, expect Republicans to try to drag things out to prevent pieces of legislation they oppose from passing.
Case in point: Read More
GOP Senator: Feds Could Sue To Block New Mexico’s ICE Contract Ban
By Daniel J. Chacón
The Santa Fe New Mexican
As New Mexico lawmakers work on a plan to bail out three counties bracing for financial hardship under a new law that will force them to end their immigration detention contracts, the Trump administration could be considering litigation.
“They are evaluating their options,” state Sen. Jim Townsend, R-Artesia, said Monday in response to a request for an update on a letter he had sent to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi last month requesting her agency’s “attention and intervention” on House Bill 9.
“They believe Read More
House Education Committee Advances Pared-Down Virtual Education Bill
By Lily Alexander
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The House Education Committee has approved a slimmed-down version of a measure that would overhaul distance-learning regulations in New Mexico, removing provisions many in the virtual school community argued would eliminate such options in small districts.
An earlier version of House Bill 253 would have restricted the number of a district’s students who could enroll in virtual programs and would have prohibited districts from enrolling distance-learning students from outside their boundaries.
The committee voted 8-4 along party lines Read More
Senators Luján, Booker, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Prevent Politicization Of Public Safety Grants
SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced the Federal Grant Neutrality Act, legislation designed to stop the politicization of Department of Justice (DOJ) federal grants and prevent the DOJ from imposing unfair conditions on jurisdictions represented by Democrats.
The bill ensures that grants cannot be withheld to punish jurisdictions for refusing to enforce partisan federal immigration policies.
For years, DOJ grants have been essential for state, local, Read More
NMDOT Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna To Resign
Secretary Ricky Serna
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Secretary Ricky Serna will resign his position effective Feb. 20 after three-and-a-half years in the role.
Before leading NMDOT, Serna served as acting secretary of the Department of Workforce Solutions and the acting director of the State Personnel Office.
“I thank the Governor for the confidence she put in me to serve my fellow New Mexicans,” Cabinet Secretary Serna said. “You have my commitment to a strong transition and my assurance that a capable and engaged team Read More
House Unanimously Passes Behavioral Health Compacts To Expand Access To Care
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Feb. 6, the House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 32: the Counseling Licensure Compact and House Bill 33: the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to expand access to behavioral and mental healthcare in New Mexico.
HB 32 and HB 33 round out the list of 10 compact bills introduced this session, all of which have unanimously passed the House, with two signed into law by the Governor this morning (SB 1, HB 50). These important pieces of legislation enter New Mexico into interstate compacts, which allow licensed, qualified healthcare providers in other Read More
Senate Approves $92 Million For State Fairgrounds Project
STATE News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Senate approved Senate Bill 48 on Feb. 6, which would authorize $92 million in bonds for the State Fairgrounds project and advance the next phase of redevelopment in Albuquerque’s International District.
The legislation, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart and Representative Janelle Anyanonu, now moves to the House of Representatives.
“Today’s Senate vote moves us one step closer to a historic revitalization of the International District and central Albuquerque,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “This bonding authority Read More
Rep. Vasquez Supports Funding to Protect Women & Kids From Abuse
Rep. Vasquez with Angelica Calderon, Executive Director of La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services in Las Cruces. Photo courtesy of the Office of Rep. Vasquez
STATE News:
LAS CRUCES — Feb. 6, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) visited La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services in Las Cruces, where he met with the Executive Director, program directors, and other staff. During the visit, La Piñon staff reported that the Administration’s actions and current political climate have eroded community trust, causing a 50% drop in local residents seeking their services — particularly in southern Doña Read More
Denish: Why Local Journalism Is Worth A Tax Credit
By DIANE D. DENISH
Corner To Corner
diane@dianedenish.com
As is usually the case in 30-day legislative sessions, far more bills are introduced than can realistically be read, debated in committee, and passed by two chambers. One estimate puts the combined total at roughly 600 bills between the House and Senate—excluding “dummy bills,” which are empty shells that can become substantive after the introduction deadline.
Relatively few of those bills will reach the governor’s desk, and some won’t even receive a committee hearing. That doesn’t mean they’re bad ideas; it simply means they aren’t Read More
Scenes From International Women’s Forum-New Mexico’s 2026 Legislative Luncheon
International Women’s Forum-New Mexico (IWF-NM) President Barbara Vigil, standing at left, welcomes legislators, members and guests to the IWF-NM 2026 Legislative Luncheon and first quarter membership meeting on Thursday at the New Mexico State Land Office in Santa Fe. To learn more about IWF-NM, click here. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
At Thursday’s IWF-NM 2026 Legislative Luncheon, legislators briefed members and guests on key legislative activities and priorities, from left, Rep. Christina Parajón Dist. 25-Bernalillo, Rep. Meredeth Dixon Dist. 20-Bernalillo, House Read More
New Mexico Providers Struggle To Secure State Funding For Sex Assault, Domestic Violence Services
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By Margaret O’Hara
The Santa Fe New Mexican
To MaryEllen Garcia, executive director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault shouldn’t be a short-term initiative.
“Survivor safety, it’s not a pilot project. … It requires ongoing investment,” Garcia said.
But whether state lawmakers are willing to make that investment this year remains uncertain.
As lawmakers hash out the details of how New Mexico will spend its money in fiscal year 2027, Read More
House Passes Legislation To Support Educators, Expand Access To Higher Education
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Feb. 6, the House of Representatives passed three important pieces of legislation to support students and teachers and strengthen educational institutions across the state.
House Bill 8, which passed by a vote of 45-23, creates a first-of-its-kind dedicated funding source for higher education projects. This Higher Education Major Projects Fund would fully fund the UNM School of Medicine expansion, a mixed-use humanities building at NMSU, and student life and housing projects statewide.
“As higher education enrollment continues to climb in New Mexico and capital Read More
Only In New Mexico: Subordinate Hires The Boss
By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Never should rich and powerful public employees get to select their own bosses. It happens all the time at New Mexico’s universities.
Presidents of universities handpick the people who serve as student regents. The governor technically makes the appointment, but presidents supply the names of the students they want as regents.
With all that leverage, presidents can lock up the loyalty of regents who are supposed to be looking out for fellow students. The results can be awful for the student body, faculty members and the public.
At Western New Mexico Read More
Backers Say Child Care Copays For Rich Will Keep Universal Care Stable In New Mexico
SB Bill 241 Co-sponsor Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup
By ESTEBAN CANDELARIA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s pledge to make state-subsidized child care free to all may come with an asterisk under a bill designed to implement a copayment structure for New Mexico’s wealthiest families.
Senate Bill 241, sponsored by Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup and other top Senate Democrats, would require a small percentage of families with incomes far above the federal poverty line to help cover the state’s expanded child care program during certain economic downturns.
By doing so, the measure Read More
New Mexico County Insurance Authority Board Of Directors Approves Addition Of Two Ex-Officio Positions
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza
NMCIA News:
SANTA FE — At their first regular Board meeting of the year Jan. 19, 2026, the New Mexico County Insurance Authority (NMCIA) Board of Directors approved the addition of two ex-officio, non-voting Directors on the Board, one to be nominated by the New Mexico Counties’ sheriff affiliate and one to be nominated by the detention administrator’s affiliate.
At their meetings in conjunction with the New Mexico Counties’ Legislative Conference Jan. 21-22, each affiliate nominated a member to serve on the NMCIA Board of Directors.
The NMCIA Board created Read More
Video: County Councilor Cull Discusses Tuesday’s Meeting
Los Alamos County Councilor Theresa Cull provides a briefing on Tuesday’s council meeting. Video by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More
‘This State … Is Not Playing’: Epstein ‘Truth Commission’ Heads To New Mexico House Floor
By ANDRÉ SALKIN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A proposed “truth commission” to investigate possible crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein at his Santa Fe County ranch could, state lawmakers hope, make New Mexico a leader in seeking accountability in a scandal that has become one of the biggest issues in national politics.
House Joint Resolution 1 is headed to the House floor after winning unanimous approval from the House Judiciary Committee on Saturday and the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee a week ago.
Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, one of the sponsors of the resolution, Read More
Legislative Roundup: 12 Days Left In Session
The Roundup in Santa Fe. Post file photo
The Santa Fe New Mexican:
House passed ed bills: The state House passed three major education-related measures Friday, two of them unanimously.
House Bill 30, which has sponsors from both parties, would raise the minimum stipends for aspiring teacher residents to $35,000 for undergrads and $44,000 for those who have bachelor’s degrees, according to a news release from House Democrats.
House Joint Resolution 1, which also advanced unanimously, will, if it passes the Senate, put a question on the November ballot asking if voters want to “create Read More
Lawmakers Deal Blow To Governor’s Support For Fracking Water Reuse
Bill Co-sponsor Rep. Joseph Sanchez, D-Alcalde
By NICHOLAS GILMORE
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Advocates for the reuse of so-called “produced water” — a group that includes the governor — have been handed a big loss with not much time left in the legislative session.
After more than four and a half hours of testimony and debate, a House committee voted 5-4 Saturday afternoon to table a bill that would set a quick timeline for new statewide regulations allowing the reuse and discharge of fracking wastewater, a byproduct of oil and gas extraction.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has for several years expressed Read More
