Bipartisan Bill To Ban Coyote Killing Contests Passes State Senate
STATE SENATE News:Data Breach Notification Passes Senate Committee
HOUSE REPUBLICAN News:
SANTA FE – This afternoon, the Senate Public Affairs Committee unanimously passed House Bill 15, known as the Data Breach Notification Act. The legislation is sponsored by Republican Rep. Bill Rehm of Bernalillo.
House Bill 15 would require businesses and other entities to implement reasonable procedures to protect the personal information of consumers. The bill would require that consumers be notified if it is suspected that their personal information may have been compromised by a data breach. Businesses and organizations must give notice to the Attorney General’s Read More
Heinrich Congratulates Two New Mexico Students On Acceptance To Prestigious US Senate Youth Program
From left, James Michael Valerio of Taos, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Irene Tenaya Fernald of Las Cruces. Courtesy photo
EDUCATION News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined in honoring New Mexico students Irene Tenaya Fernald of Las Cruces and James Michael Valerio of Taos at a reception wednesday celebrating their acceptance into the prestigious United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP).
“I congratulate Irene Tenaya Fernald and James Michael Valerio on their acceptance into the highly competitive and merit-based United Read More
Newly Elected Los Alamos School Board And UNM-LA Advisory Board Sworn In
From left, newly elected UNM-LA Advisory Board members Sheila Schiferl, Michelle Hall and David Sutton with newly elected Los Alamos School Board members Ellen Ben-Naim and Stephen Boerigter. Los Alamos County Municipal Judge Alan Kirk administered the Oath of Office to the new members Monday at the Los Alamos Justice Center. They will take up their duties at the next meeting of their respective boards. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.comLuján Statement Following 27-hour Marathon Committee Debate On Healthcare Repeal Bill
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the House Energy & Commerce Committee began consideration and debate on Republican legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act. After more than 27 hours of on-going debate, the Committee approved the bill on a straight party line basis.
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), a member of the committee who was present for all 27 hours of the committee hearing, issued the following statement:
“I am disappointed that this bill does not offer a solution to any of the healthcare problems real Americans face. This bill Read More
Environmental Justice Moral Monday At State Capitol
STATE News:
- New Mexicans impacted by environmental injustice in their communities bring their voices to the State Capitol
SANTA FE — About 50 community leaders impacted by environmental justice issues in New Mexico will be connecting with their decision makers in the State Capitol on Monday, March 13 as part of Environmental Justice (EJ) Moral Monday. The citizens’ advocacy day is intended to highlight various EJ issues impacting our air, land, water and health.
Environmental justice communities and organizations from across New Mexico will be participating at the Read More
House Unanimously Passes Bipartisan Tax Bill
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The House unanimously passed bipartisan tax legislation that includes a number of top priorities for hardworking New Mexico families.
Rep. Carl Trujillo (D-Santa Fe) introduced a floor substitute for House Bill 412, sponsored by Rep. Jason Harper (R-Rio Rancho), and the substitute was unanimously adopted.
The new bill simplifies the tax code to improve the economic footing for the state while keeping more money in the pockets of hardworking New Mexico families. The Democratic substitute removed the food tax that would have had a negative Read More
Gov. Signs Two Bills Expanding Broadband Access
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez
SENATE DEMOCRATS News:
SANTA FE – Today, Gov. Susana Martinez signed two bills to encourage business development by expanding broadband access to underserved communities across New Mexico.
House Bill 60 by Rep. Carl Trujillo and Sen. Jacob Candelaria will spur broadband development across the state and significantly reduce the costs of new broadband network construction through partnerships between local governments and broadband providers.
“This legislation will have an immense impact towards the goal of ensuring every New Mexican family and Read More
Senate Passes Bill To Increase Funding For Classrooms By Increasing State’s Cigarette Tax
STATE News:-
Cigarette Tax Prevents Looming Cuts of 5-7 Percent to Public Schools
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Senate today passed legislation by a vote of 24 to 16 to provide public schools a needed funding increase of $89 million per year by increasing the state’s cigarette tax by $1.50.
SB 231, sponsored by Sen. Howie Morales of Silver City, would direct the new revenues to strengthen New Mexico’s K-12 classrooms, which have been hit with cuts worth tens of millions of dollars. The new revenues are needed to prevent looming cuts of 5 percent to 7 percent across the board to K-12 classrooms Read More
Udall To Question FCC Chairman And DOI Secretary On Policy Priorities
U.S. SENATE News:Letter To The Editor: About That ‘Freedom Of Press’
By ROBERT VISELIn reference to a recent letter to the editor in the Los Alamos Daily Post about “Freedom Of The Press” … there are a few problems with this concept lately.
I’m all for the First Amendment and all it stands for unfortunately today’s media outlets have proven time and time again that they are extremely biased in their reporting. This applies to all the major news networks, especially CNN, as well as the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and the rest. Even our own Albuquerque Journal and Los Alamos Monitor are guilty of this biased reporting in their stories and editorials. Read More
House Passes Bill For Early High School Graduation
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday to allow New Mexico students the opportunity to graduate early from high school. House Bill 498 is sponsored by Rep. Alonzo Baldonado (R-Valencia), and it passed on a bipartisan 62 to 5 vote.
Baldonado’s bill would permit students to test out of high school if they score in the top twenty percentile of students taking the ACT, SAT, the armed services vocational aptitude battery, or other assessment approved by the New Mexico Public Education Department. Students must have parental permission to apply Read More
House Passes Bill To Advance Bioscience Research
HOUSE REPUBLICAN News:
SANTA FE – The House of Representatives passed House Bill 460 Tuesday night, to establish a Bioscience Authority in New Mexico. The bill sponsored, by Rep. Larry Larrañaga (R-Bernalillo), passed on a 64 to 2 vote.
House Bill 460 would create a Bioscience Authority to promote collaboration between state universities, government research institutions, including the national laboratories, and private sector entities in New Mexico. The Authority would encourage public-private partnerships, coordinate industry development activities, and identify ways to support Read More
New Mexico House Unanimously Passes Bill To Help Native American Students Succeed
Rep. Derrick Lente (D-Sandia Pueblo)
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Rep. Derrick Lente’s (D-Sandia Pueblo) bill to help Native American students succeed, unanimously passed Tuesday night a vote in the New Mexico House of Representatives. HB 484 would require a needs assessment to determine what services school districts need to provide Native American students to improve graduation rates and college readiness.
“We need to create a structure to help Native American students succeed,” Rep. Lente said. “This bill will create a partnership between school districts, superintendents, parents, tribes, Read More
Community Packs Ambassador Huddleston’s Talk
This is a pic from the AAUW talk tonight. The library was packed. More chairs had to be brought in!! Will send you via email some info that you can out with the pic if you want to. Ambassador Vicki Huddleston presents, ‘Our Woman in Havana’, Tuesday evening to an overflow crowd at Mesa Library. Several of the women and men in the audience are Cuban Americans. In her talk sponsored by the American Association of University Women, Ambassador Vicki Huddleston discusses the political realities of the relationship between various U.S. presidents and the United State’s Read More
Rep. Jason Harper On Bill To Help Teachers
Rep. Jason Harper (R-Sandoval). Courtesy photoRep. Candie Sweetser’s Tiny House Bill Passes 66-0
Rep. Candie Sweetser STATE News:
SANTA FE — Rep. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) recognized the emergence of the tiny house industry, with her bill to define and allow assessors to review tiny homes. Monday night, her HB 512 passed unanimously by a vote of 66-0.
Tiny homes arrived on the scene in recent years as a creative way for people to live sustainably and own a home without the burden of unmanageable mortgage payments.
“I think this is the beginning of giving tiny homes an avenue to move forward in New Mexico,” Rep. Sweetser said. “This bill facilitates options for New Mexicans who are looking Read More
House Approves Bill To Protect Children
HOUSE REPUBLICAN News:
SANTA FE – On a bipartisan 63 to 1 vote, the House of Representatives approved legislation Monday night sponsored by Rep. Kelly Fajardo (R-Valencia) to protect New Mexico’s children from receiving pornographic images from sexual predators.
House Bill 71 would clarify language in the current statute relating to criminal sexual communication with a child to include all pornographic images. Currently, individuals can only be charged with a crime if they send pornographic pictures of their bodies. Fajardo’s bill would make it a fourth-degree felony to send or provide Read More
Environmental Sustainability Board: Notice Of Possible Quorum
Committee Delays GRT For Non-profit National Labs
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard and Los Alamos County Councilor Pete Sheehey address the New Mexico Legislature Friday as the House Taxation and Revenue Committee takes up HB 332. Courtesy/ScreenShot
A bill designed to protect state and local governments from a potential multimillion dollar cut in gross receipts taxes hit a bump Friday afternoon, as it was temporarily tabled pending further discussions with the House Taxation and Revenue Committee.
House Bill 32 would amend a portion of New Mexico state law that currently exempts non-profit Read More
