Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler
By MARLENE WILDEN
Los Alamos Daily Post
marlene@ladailypost.com
State Rep. Christine Chandler spoke with local business leaders Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Chamber Business Breakfast at SALA Los Alamos Event Center. The event gave business owners a chance to discuss economic challenges and opportunities with the Los Alamos lawmaker.
Chandler, who serves on the House Judiciary and Tax & Revenue committees, said her workload reflects the breadth of issues before the legislature.
“Last year in the judiciary we had 389 bills related to the legal system, civil rights and constitutional issues, and for tax policy we had 75,” she said.
Among recurring debates is the Paid Family Medical Leave Act, which has been introduced five years in a row. Chandler cited artificial intelligence and data privacy regulation, gun safety, health care access and immigration protections as top priorities for the 2026 session.
On immigration, she said, “There are some of us who are interested in trying to get the state out of the business of detaining people, some of whom may have been detained illegally.”
Budget challenges
Chandler emphasized that despite healthy revenues, the state faces difficult choices as federal cuts ripple through health care, child care and nutrition programs.
“It’s really going to be a tough few years, folks, and we are going to do what we can,” she said. “We are a rich state in terms of our oil and natural gas, so I don’t want to suggest that we’re in dire straits. But we need to balance our budget unlike the federal government. At some point we are not going to be able to take care of every issue.”
Chandler criticized the federal budget reconciliation law signed in July, calling Medicaid cuts “short-sighted.” “If you take from Peter, Paul is going to pay for it,” she said.
A special session is scheduled for Oct. 1–2, with the agenda still under negotiation. Chandler said lawmakers expect to focus on mitigating higher health care costs and reduced access to essential services. She cited an example of a fellow legislator, a single mother with two children, whose Affordable Care Act premium is set to jump to $900 a month.
Chandler also pointed to the imbalance of state governance, noting that during special sessions, any bill to be heard must receive a message from the governor.
“The balance of power between the executive and the legislature in this state is heavy in favor of the executive branch,” she said, suggesting a possible constitutional amendment.
Child care rollout
County councilwoman Ryn Herrmann raised concerns about New Mexico’s universal child care program, set to launch in November.
Providers fear reimbursements will fall short of their private rates. “They are questioning how the free child care program that will be made available to parents, regardless of income, will impact them, because the current amount that is paid is less than they charge,” Herrmann said.
Chandler encouraged providers to participate in an Oct. 9 public hearing and pointed to the state’s star-rating system as a way to boost reimbursements.
Economic development
Sandy Jones, director of the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, asked about the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) and the limits imposed by the state’s Anti-Donation Clause. “Los Alamos business leaders have concerns about LEDA’s restrictive interpretation,” she said, noting towns without significant manufacturing often miss out.
Local business owner John Courtright added, “Nonprofits like a volunteer ambulance service sometimes need just a little boost.”
Chandler acknowledged the challenge. “Some of us have tried to loosen the requirements, and it’s very hard, very hard. There is a segment of the legislature that is very concerned about figuring out things like corruption,” she said, urging Jones to raise the issue with the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce during its Oct. 2–3 meeting.
Taxes and workforce needs
David Hampton of the UNM–LA Advisory Board asked about reducing property taxes. Chandler pushed back, citing New Mexico’s low effective tax rate. “The state doesn’t get much of any of it — it’s the counties that rely on the tax — and eroding the tax has potential for significant impact on local government,” she said.
Lisa Hampton, chair of the Los Alamos County Health Council, raised the issue of licensing compacts to recruit out-of-state providers. Chandler said only a nursing compact is in effect, with other measures stalled in the Senate.
Courtright added, “The idea behind compacts is to try to introduce a few people that would move here permanently and then go through those hoops.”
Chandler pointed to physician loan reimbursement as a more effective solution. “Doctors have a quarter of a million dollars of debt. Have the forgiveness be meaningful if they are here for a meaningful amount of time,” she said, calling the current cap of $25,000 a year inadequate. She also noted efforts to expand the state medical school to keep graduates in New Mexico.
Small business support
Janice Krish, director of the Small Business Development Center at UNM–LA, warned federal funding reductions will shutter Small Business Administration and Minority Business Development Agency resource partners. The loss of about $2 million in federal funding will cause the Santa Fe and Rio Rancho offices to close, effective Oct. 1. Chandler agreed to follow up with House appropriations staff about possible state support.
Jones stressed the need to keep Los Alamos in statewide conversations. “It’s important that we don’t get left behind just because our community looks different from others,” she said.
Chandler closed the breakfast by encouraging business leaders to stay engaged in policy debates. The representative also addressed the importance of vaccine education in the face of misinformation.
