Jojo Sandoval and other second grade students from Thrive Community School look up at the glass ceiling of the state Capitol building while getting a tour on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
The Santa Fe New Mexican Staff:
Senate confirms secretary in mourning: The Senate held a moment of silence Wednesday during an emotional confirmation hearing for Rob Black as Cabinet secretary for the state Economic Development Department.
“Mr. Black’s mother passed away right before he came into the confirmation hearing,” Sen. Jay Block, R-Rio Rancho, announced on the floor. “His mother, I know, is looking down upon him and is very, very proud of him.”
Black, who served as president and CEO of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce for just over six years before Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham tapped him in September to lead the state’s economic development efforts, was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time,” Block told Black after the moment of silence. “To end on a positive note, you are going to be one of the best economic development secretaries that we’ve had in the state of New Mexico.”
Chambers of commerce lobby governor: The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and other business groups around the state are calling on the governor and legislative leaders to take action on interstate compacts that would make it easier for doctors with licenses in other states to practice in New Mexico.
In a letter to the governor and leaders of both chambers, the groups wrote they are “quite concerned” about the disposition of several interstate health care compacts pending before the Legislature.
“We all acknowledge that our state has and is facing a healthcare crisis,” the letter states. “The compacts can help close the shortage of healthcare professionals in our state.”
The letter notes the compacts would allow health care professionals to practice in New Mexico, either in person or via telehealth, “without going through a burdensome licensing process.”
“Forty states and D.C. participate in the interstate compact for physicians, including all five states that border New Mexico,” according to the letter. “States keep signing onto these compacts and none have left them, a strong show of confidence in the benefits they provide to patients in these states.”
Magic mushrooms nearly a go: Just one more signoff is needed for New Mexicans to be able to receive treatment using medical psilocybin — or “magic mushrooms.”
The state House voted nearly unanimously Tuesday to pass Senate Bill 219, sending the measure to the governor’s desk. Only Rep. Randall Pettigrew, R-Lovington, voted against the measure.
The bill has earned support from Republicans in both chambers of the Roundhouse, who see the measure as a way to help treat veterans who come home suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
“This scared me at first, when I first heard about this years ago, but I’ve seen the results of what can happen,” said Rep. Alan Martinez, R-Bernalillo, noting he’s seen firsthand how veterans can benefit from medical psilocybin treatment.
Governor signs tribal regalia bill: On Wednesday Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 163, which bans school boards and charter schools from prohibiting Native American students from wearing “culturally significant clothing, accessories, and objects during graduation events,” according to a news release from her office.
“This legislation represents our commitment to honoring and respecting the rich cultural heritage of New Mexico’s Native communities,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “Every student deserves to celebrate their academic achievements in a way that honors their identity and traditions.”
Eighteen other states have passed similar laws. It passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously.
“This is a powerful law protecting the rights of Native students and their families to celebrate their achievements while honoring their culture and identity,” said Josett Monette (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), Cabinet secretary for the Indian Affairs Department. “We are proud to have worked alongside Governor Lujan Grisham, the Public Education Department, and our legislative sponsors to make this a reality.”
Turquoise Alert bill passes House: The state House unanimously passed a bill Wednesday to create a new alert system, known as the “Turquoise Alert,” to sound the alarm when Native Americans go missing in New Mexico.
Senate Bill 41 sailed through both chambers of the Roundhouse without a single “no” vote. Lawmakers have hailed the measure, similar to the existing Amber Alert and Silver Alert systems, as a way of better coordinating searches for Native American people when they go missing.
“For years now, we have stepped up on our own to help locate our missing brothers and sisters through coordinated local efforts and on social media,” bill sponsor Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta, D-To’hajiilee said in a news release. “Establishing the Turquoise Alert will allow the state to amplify these community-led efforts to better ensure the protection and safe return of our loved ones.”
Quotes of the day: “Our public policy of trying to make as much as possible free has contributed to the explosion of the expenditures that we are currently undertaking with respect to medical care.” –Sen. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs, during a discussion of state budget bill House Bill 2 and how much New Mexico spends on Medicaid. According to testimony on the floor, some 40% of New Mexicans are on Medicaid.
“I haven’t read the bill but it better be a tortilla. Is it a tortilla? OK. Otherwise it gets five committee referrals.” –House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, talking about Senate Bill 315, a bipartisan bill to adopt the tortilla as the official state bread.
Demetri Smith, dressed as a bill, poses for a portrait while celebrating Senate Bill 163 being signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in the Rotunda at the state Capitol on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Smith, a youth intern with NM Native Vote, was there in support of SB 163, which allows Native students across New Mexico to celebrate their heritage and wear tribal regalia at graduation and public school events. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
