New Mexico Senators, Public Square Off On Safety Versus Freedom In Gun Debate
State Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo, right, joins a pro-Second Amendment rally Saturday outside the Capitol. Sponsored by the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association and the New Mexico Firearms Industry Association, demonstrators, a number of them armed, voiced their opposition to Senate Bill 17, a gun control bill moving through the Legislature. Nathan Burton/The New Mexican
Bethany Padilla, center, a member of UNM’s Students Demand Action chapter, wipes tears from her eyes as she listens to speakers share their experiences of gun violence during a rally in support of Senate Bill 17 on Read More
Read The Latest Letters To The Editor
Bill To Ban Some Guns In New Mexico, Crack Down On Dealers Heads To Senate Floor
Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asks a question of First Judicial District Judge Bryan Biedscheid on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. Matt Dahlseid/The New Mexican
By CLARA BATES
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A controversial bill that would ban certain “extremely dangerous weapons” and add various regulations on firearms dealers is headed to the state Senate floor.
The sale of certain semi-automatic rifles — including AK-47s and AR-15s — would be banned under Senate Bill 17, which passed out of the Senate Judiciary Read More
Early Childhood Workers In New Mexico Laud Proposed $60 Million Wage And Career Ladder
Cabinet Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky
Early Childhood Education and Care Department
By ESTEBAN CANDELARIA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
MJ Lord, a teaching assistant at an Albuquerque preschool, works three jobs just to make ends meet.
The 25-year-old wants to be an early childhood educator — she’s completing a bachelor’s degree in human development and family sciences and has plans to pursue a master’s degree in early childhood as well — but said her pay at the preschool alone is not enough to sustain her goals.
“I would love to stay in this career field, because it is my passion,” she said. “I think Read More
Bill Would Overhaul Virtual Education In New Mexico … And Its Funding
Bill Sponsor Rep. Joy Garratt, D-Bernalillo
By ANDRÉ SALKIN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Supporters of virtual education, many wearing shirts reading “Save Our Virtual Schools,” packed into a room at the state Capitol on Friday to push back against a bill that would overhaul New Mexico’s online learning regulations for the first time in nearly two decades.
The changes include a slash in funding for schools that serve distance learning students to fix a crisis: a $35 million hole in the roughly $4.5 billion pool of per-student funding.
The provision also would prevent nearly $40 million in state Read More
Bill Co-Sponsor Rep. Christine Chandler Hopes To Turn Down Temperature On Medical Malpractice Debate
Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to take up a high-profile bill Monday to change New Mexico’s medical malpractice law, after a presentation Friday, the chairwoman said was designed to inoculate the discussion from the divisive rhetoric that has marked the debate.
With less than two weeks left in the 30-day session, Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, who is a co-sponsor of House Bill 99, emphasized the urgency of getting the legislation — which she noted has bipartisan support — passed.
“There has Read More
County To Host First Community Engagement Session For Bayo Canyon Trailhead Improvements
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County invites community members to participate in the first community engagement session for the Bayo Canyon Trailhead Improvement Project, an initiative focused on creating a safer, more accessible, and welcoming trailhead for users of all abilities.
The first in-person community engagement session is 5:30 p.m., Feb. 11 at Fuller Lodge. Community members are encouraged to attend to learn more about the project, review early concepts, and share input that will help guide the design process.
Besides in-person meetings, the County is offering other ways for the Read More
Luján, Morelle, Gluesenkamp Perez Continue Fight For Consumers’ Right To Repair
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Congressman Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03), introduced the Fair Repair Act, legislation to guarantee consumers and small businesses a right to repair their own products by requiring manufacturers to make diagnostic repair information, parts, and tools readily available.
“For far too long, the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations have made it more difficult for Americans to repair the products they own,” Luján said. “The costs of these barriers can Read More
Legislative Roundup: 13 Days Left In Session
Demonstrators cheer and hold up signs during a public lands rally on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, outside of the state Capitol. Matt Dahlseid/The New Mexican
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Dawn the duck: The New Mexico Senate unanimously confirmed the appointment Friday of Dawn Walters to lead the state’s newly established Office of the Child Advocate.
The office will be responsible for providing third-party oversight of New Mexico’s troubled child welfare system.
“This role has been long awaited and is critical to the safety and success of New Mexico’s children and families,” Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, Read More
NMDOT Awards Nearly $47 Million For 27 Local Transportation Projects
NMDOT News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) awarded nearly $47 million to 27 projects through four federal funding programs, benefiting 15 agencies statewide, during the federal fiscal year 2026 call for projects.
Awarded projects range from supporting transit operation and infrastructure upgrades, to design and construction of urban and rural multiuse paths and trails, to supporting Safe Routes to School programs. A full list of projects is listed below.
“These programs are critical for Tribal and local public agencies, funding projects from planning Read More
Heinrich, Daines: Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Designating Week Of Feb. 2 As ‘National Tribal Colleges And Universities Week’
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced that the U.S. Senate passed their bipartisan resolution they led to designate the week of Feb. 2, 2026, as “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week.” This resolution seeks to uplift and celebrate the achievements of students pursuing postsecondary educational opportunities in Tribal Colleges and Universities.
“Our resolution affirms the important role that Tribal Colleges and Universities play in preparing Native and non-Native students for careers they can build Read More
RCAA To Host Four Community Listening Sessions On Lower Rio Chama Watershed Project
RCAA News:
The Lower Rio Chama Watershed Project, led by the Rio de Chama Acequia Association (RCAA), is an acequia- and community-led effort to improve watershed health and resilience in the lower Rio Chama region, from below Abiquiú Dam to El Guache.
Guided by community priorities, this effort aims to bring together acequias and neighbors from across the region to co-develop a shared plan and vision for a healthy watershed – from the uplands through the arroyos and down to the acequias along the Rio Chama. A key focus is on slowing and spreading destructive flood waters from arroyos to mitigate Read More
‘We’re Willing To Do What It Takes’: New Mexico Health Councils Push For State Funding
By Margaret O’Hara
The Santa Fe New Mexican
In Santo Domingo Pueblo, Anthony Yepa serves as a health care explainer.
As an adviser for the pueblo’s Hopa Health Council — named for a Keres word meaning “the people” — Yepa helps members of his community understand complex state and federal health care policy.
People ask: What’s in New Mexico’s more than $11 billion budget? What’s a managed care organization? How might federal health care cuts affect Santo Domingo Pueblo residents?
Yepa answers.
“That’s what health councils do — from the Roundhouse Read More
Microgrid Oversight Act Receives Message From Governor
STATE News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Senate received a message from Gov. Lujan Grisham to permit legislative consideration of an updated version of Sen. Jeff Steinborn’s (D-Las Cruces) legislation, the Microgrid Oversight Act.
The new bill, Senate Bill 235 would:
- Require the Public Regulation Commission to begin rule making by July 1, 2027, to establish a “renewable energy portfolio” standard of required renewable energy usage for microgrids, to be increased over time and be carbon emission free by 2045.
- Prohibit utilities from increasing customers’ electricity
Faith-Based Climate Advocates Arrive At State Capitol After 300-Mile Trek
Desirée Bernard participates in Climate Solutions Day at the state Capitol Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Bernard, the executive director of the New Mexico and El Paso branch of Interfaith Power & Light, set out with others on a more than 300-mile faith-based, climate-focused trek toward the Roundhouse. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
By ALAINA MENCINGER
The Santa Fe New Mexican
GALISTEO — As Desirée Bernard walked between Roswell and Corona in January, local farmers and ranchers warned her of a big storm coming. Some offered a lift.
Bernard wasn’t looking for a ride. Instead, she asked Read More
Lawmakers Promise More Big Wins For New Mexico As Governor Signs Year’s First Bills
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs one of the first bills to reach her desk this legislative session in the governor’s Cabinet room on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Bills signed Thursday included a $1.5 billion bonding package to improve New Mexico roads, interstate compacts for doctors and social workers and a prohibition on local governments operating immigration detention centers. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
By Margaret O’Hara and Daniel J. Chacón
The Santa Fe New Mexican
As Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the first laws of the year to reach her desk, legislators Read More
Attempt To Overhaul New Mexico’s Education Administration System Rapidly Fails
Bill Sponsor Sen. Bill Soules, D-Las Cruces
By ANDRÉ SALKIN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A yearslong effort to return public education oversight in New Mexico to an appointed state school board and superintendent, rather than a Cabinet secretary, saw a quick end this week.
The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday rejected Senate Joint Resolution 3, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Bill Soules of Las Cruces, by a vote of 6-2.
Soules billed the proposal as a way to bring stability to New Mexico’s education system “regardless of which party is in power,” following a high turnover of education secretaries Read More
Legislative Roundup: 14 Days Left In Session
Brothers Sebastián, 6, and Santiago Casuas Natale, 8, play under the large table where Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and leaders from both parties were present to sign the first bills of the legislative session into law on Feb. 5, 2026. Sebastián Casuas Natale was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer and required care from out-of-state doctors, something he couldn’t get in New Mexico without the medical compact bill, SB 1, signed into law Thursday. Gabriela Campos/The New MexicanHere comes the judge: A bill that would add a judge to the First Judicial District Court,
New Mexico House Republicans Urge Governor To Veto HB 9
From New Mexico House Republicans:
SANTA FE — New Mexico House Republicans are urging Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to veto House Bill 9, the so-called “Immigrant Safety Act”, following its passage on the Senate floor.
The legislation represents a dangerous step away from public safety, the rule of law, and constitutional cooperation between state and federal government.
HB 9 prohibits public bodies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities to house individuals detained for federal immigration violations and effectively ends New Mexico’s participation in the federal 287(g) Read More
Council Makes Strides To Improve Recreational Amenities
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Efforts to improve amenities for recreational enthusiasts in Los Alamos, from the athlete all the way to the pedestrian, are progressing.
During the Los Alamos County Council regular meeting, Jan. 27, council unanimously approved the North Mesa Recreation Master Plan as well as the installation of the High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) Signal on N.M. 4.
In the discussion of the North Mesa Recreation Master Plan, County Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker highlighted the fact that while the plan was up for approval, Read More
