Stewart Bill To Create Wildlife Corridors To Protect Animals, People Heads To Senate Floor
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 21, 2019
SENATE News:Sen. Mimi Stewart’s bill to create wildlife corridors to protect animals and people on New Mexico roads is headed to the Senate floor after it passed the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday.
“Without carefully planned wildlife corridors, New Mexico roads are incredibly dangerous for animals and people alike,” Stewart said. “By using overpasses and underpasses, among other tools, we can keep animals off our roads and ensure drivers and their passengers get where they’re going safely.”
SB 228 authorizes the Department of Game and Fish and the Department of Transportation
Read More LANL Foundation & Eight Northern Pueblos Attend National Quality In Home Visiting Summit
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 21, 2019
Members of the LANL Foundation’s Early Childhood staff, along with representatives from the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos at the National Quality in Home Visiting Summit Jan. 30-Feb. 1 in Washington, D.C. Courtesy/LANL FoundationLANLF News:
ESPAÑOLA — The LANL Foundation’s Early Childhood staff, along with representatives from the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos, recently attended the National Summit on Quality in Home Visiting in Washington, D.C.
The conference was held Jan. 30 through Feb. 1, 2019, and was hosted by the Ounce of Prevention Fund, an organization
Read More Legislative Roundup: Feb. 21
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 21, 2019
Max Rodriguez, left, and Sebastian Hatcher look up to the balcony of the Capitol Rotunda before performing music with other students from The Montessori Elementary & Middle School Wednesday in Albuquerque in Santa Fe. Olivia Harlow/The New Mexican
Zoelle Strober, a student from The Montessori Elementary & Middle School in Albuquerque, plays the violin during a musical performance Wednesday at the Capitol in Santa Fe. Olivia Harlow/The New MexicanBy The New Mexican
Days left in the session: 23
Confirmations: The Senate voted 31-0 Wednesday to
Read More RCLC Meeting Postponed To March 1
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 20, 2019
RCLC News:
The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities meeting scheduled for Friday has been postponed to March 1.
Governor Pushes For Payoff Of Film Credit Backlog
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 20, 2019
Gov. Michelle Lujan GrishamBy ROBERT NOTT
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants state legislators to allocate up to $380 million to pay off a backlog of tax credits owed to production companies that shot movies or television shows in New Mexico.
Tripp Stelnicki, a spokesman for the governor, said the buildup of unpaid rebates “creates an uncertainty in the minds of producers. The governor prefers to get this done as quickly as possible.”
Paying what’s owed would require a one-time appropriation from the general fund, said
Read More Rep. Stansbury Announces Critical Water Legislation
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 20, 2019
Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-Albuquerque) and Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena) announced the introduction of House Bill 651. Courtesy photoSTATE News:
SANTA FE ― Tuesday, on Earth Science Day, Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-Albuquerque) and Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena) announced the introduction of House Bill 651—which will help address water management needs across the state.
Responding to drought and meeting the needs of farmers, communities, energy producers, and our natural places requires having the science and tools to do so.
Gessing: Tax Hikes Won’t Diversify NM Economy
Submitted by CSTadmin
on February 20, 2019
By PAUL J. GESSINGRio Grande Foundation
House Democrats have revamped and are now pushing HB 6, legislation that ostensibly “reforms” New Mexico’s tax code. In reality, the legislation would impose a variety of tax hikes and raise New Mexicans’ overall tax burdens by $120 million a year.
The bill would have the positive impact of reducing the State gross receipts tax rate by 0.5%, but the legislation includes numerous taxes including but not limited to motor vehicle excise taxes, a 10 cent per gallon increase in the gas tax, hiking the top rate on personal income taxes from 4.9 to
Read More Dem Leaders, Shoppers Don’t Want Food Taxed Again
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 20, 2019
Demetrio Martinez and Aurora Hentzen shop Tuesday for poblano peppers in the produce section of of El Paisano Supermarket on Cerrillos Road in Santa Fe. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
Mariah Peña and her family shop for groceries Tuesday in a Santa Fe supermarket. Photo by Rebecca Moss/The New MexicanBy REBECCA MOSS
On a frigid Tuesday morning, Mariah Peña drove from her home at San Ildefonso Pueblo to go grocery shopping in Santa Fe with her son and little sister.
Inside the Market Street supermarket, 7-year-old Damian settled
Read More House Passes ‘Motor Voter’ Registration Bill
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 20, 2019
The Roundhouse. Courtesy/SFNMBy ROBERT NOTT
Following a contentious debate, the state House of Representatives late Tuesday voted to approve a bill that would automatically register eligible New Mexicans to vote when they conduct transactions with the Motor Vehicle Division.
House Bill 84 includes a provision that allows those citizens to opt out of registering or updating their existing voter registration as they apply for a driver’s license or state identity card.
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver spoke in favor
Bill To Improve 911 Systems Passes House Committee
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 20, 2019
HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:SANTA FE ― Tuesday, the House Local Government, Land Grants & Cultural Affairs Committee passed House Bill 493, sponsored by Rep. Jim Trujillo (D-Santa Fe), to improve 911 systems.
House Bill 439 would establish an Enhanced 911 Advisory Board to work with the Department of Finance Administration and the Department of Information Technology, among other partners, to guide the enhanced 911 fund in improving its efficiency and transition to Next Generation technology.
According to a March 2018 Legislative Finance Report, “upgrading 911 systems
Read More Governor Appoints John D’Antonio State Engineer
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 20, 2019
John D’Antonio STATE News:
SANTA FE ― Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Tuesday made a key personnel appointment naming John D’Antonio as New Mexico State Engineer.
“With decades of resource engineering experience, John D’Antonio is uniquely qualified to direct the critical protection and management of our water resources,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “I have no illusions about the challenges we face, from climate change to infrastructure needs, from lawsuits to staffing levels. I know John will meet these challenges head on. He has met them before, and his experience demonstrates
Read More Udall, Heinrich Secure Strong Investments For New Mexico In Bipartisan Government Funding Agreement
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 20, 2019
U.S. SENATE News:WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich joined the Senate in voting 83-16 to pass a bipartisan agreement to fund the government through September 2019, avert another partial government shutdown, and invest in essential New Mexico priorities.
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the bill, and the president has signed it into law.
The funding package includes several measures to benefit New Mexico that Udall and Heinrich successfully championed. It includes
Read More Legislative Roundup: Feb. 20
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 20, 2019
Phil Miller, a map producer for the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, a research division of New Mexico Tech, shows Scott Christenson a 3D aquifer mapping program depicting the subsurface geology at Carlsbad during New Mexico Tech Day at the state Captiol Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New MexicanSFNM News:
Days remaining in session: 24
Secret ballots: State senators voted 34-0 on Tuesday for a bill that would enable victims of domestic violence to vote through a confidential system.
The sponsor, Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto,
Read More Secretary Of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver Responds To Senate Passage Of Important Update To Public Financing Of New Mexico Elections
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 20, 2019
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse OliverSTATE News:
SANTA FE ― The New Mexico State Senate has passed an important update to the state’s public financing system.
Senate Bill 4 passed the Senate Tuesday 34-1 and, if it becomes law, will expand public financing of certain races in New Mexico elections.
“People from all backgrounds and walks of life should have the ability to run for public office, not just the wealthy and well-connected,” Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said. “Today’s passage of Senate Bill 4 by the New Mexico State Senate is a great step toward
Read More Tax Officials Ask New Mexico Lawmakers To Push Back Bill’s Date For Legal Pot Sales
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 19, 2019
Courtesy photo
By ANDREW OXFORD
When it comes to legalizing cannabis for recreational use, those responsible for running state government have a warning for lawmakers: Not so fast.
The proposed legislation calls for the state to begin licensing retailers as soon as January 2020. But the state Taxation and Revenue Department has told lawmakers the deadline is unfeasible and asked that they push it back to 2021.
The change would shove further into the future the day when New Mexicans who are 21 and older could freely buy cannabis from retailers.
Read More Sen. Mimi Stewart Bill To Improve Fire Safety In Schools, Hospitals Passes New Mexico Senate
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 19, 2019
Sen. Mimi Stewart
STATE NEWS:
SB 143 Calls for Rules to Allow More Smoke/Fire Damper Inspections
Sen. Mimi Stewart’s bill to improve fire safety in schools, hospitals and other public buildings by requiring the Public Regulation Commission to update inspection guidelines for smoke and fire dampers passed the Senate on Tuesday.
Specifically, SB 143 directs the PRC to establish rules that would allow certified technicians who install smoke and fire dampers to also inspect dampers and report damage or needed repairs.
“Smoke and fire dampers are in almost every school, every hospital and every Read More
Senator Wants Ethics Panel’s Work Mostly Secret
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 19, 2019
Sen. Linda M. Lopez, D-Albuquerque, sits in the Senate chamber Friday, February 15, 2019. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New MexicanBy ANDREW OXFORD
A state senator has proposed to keep much of the New Mexico ethics commission’s work secret and potentially impose thousands of dollars in fines and even jail time on anyone who breaks its confidentiality rules.
Seventy-five percent of voters in last year’s election approved the creation of a state ethics commission, and legislators are now debating exactly how it should work,
Read More Heinrich, Udall Reintroduce Buffalo Tract Protection Act
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 19, 2019
U.S. SENATE News:WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) have reintroduced the Buffalo Tract Protection Act to withdraw four parcels of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in southern Sandoval County, including the Buffalo Tract and the Crest of Montezuma, from any mineral development, including gravel mining.
In 2012, the BLM released a draft of the new resource management plan for BLM lands in central New Mexico. In the draft plan, the BLM proposed to open the Buffalo Tract in southern Sandoval County to mineral development, including
Read More Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities Meets Friday
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 19, 2019
RCLC News:
The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) meets at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 at the Espanola City Hall, 405 N. Paseo De Onate in Espanola.
Agenda items include a LANL Legacy Cleanup overview presentation by N3B.
The meeting is open to the public.
About the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities:
The Regional Coalition is comprised of nine cities, towns, counties and pueblos surrounding the Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Founded in 2011, the Regional Coalition works in partnership to ensure national decisions incorporate local needs Read More
Proposal On How Regents Are Picked Advances
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 19, 2019
By ROBERT NOTTA proposed constitutional amendment to create a nominating commission for university regents cleared the Senate Rules Committee on Monday. The vote was 7-3.
The sponsor, Democratic Sen. Jeff Steinborn of Las Cruces, said an independent body of nominators, and not the governor alone, should establish a field of candidates to serve as regents.
Senate Joint Resolution 6 would require the nominating commission to submit three names for each regent seat to the governor, who then would make her selections from the field.
“This
