Politics

Rep. James Madalena

LEGISLATIVE News:

SANTA FE—The House of Representatives has approved a new gaming compact with the Navajo Nation by a majority vote of 36-30. It would allow the Navajo Nation to operate up to five gaming facilities, the most of any New Mexico tribe or pueblo. 

“Congratulations to the Navajo Nation on House action to move House Joint Resolution 15 forward to the Senate,” said Rep. James Roger Madalena, D-Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, who carried the legislation. “There are challenging issues as debated in the House and I wish them well in their efforts to renew their Read More

Sen. Tim Keller

LEGISLATIVE News:

SANTA FE—Senate Joint Memorial 5 (SJM5), sponsored by Sen. Tim Keller, D-Bernalillo, and Rep. Liz Thomson, D-Bernalillo, has cleared both the Senate and the House chambers. The legislation requests that the New Mexico Legislative Council establish a Medicaid Disability Services Oversight Council.

“New Mexicans living with disabilities are in some of the most vulnerable circumstances, yet have the least say in key decisions. This legislation provides a way for people with disabilities to engage in meaningful participation with state agencies to help Read More

Rep. Mimi Stewart

N.M. HOUSE News:

SANTA FE—House Republicans voted to kill a House Education Committee report on House Bill 391 with a 30 to 33 vote.

House Bill 391 is a sub for House Bill 67, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Bernalillo, chair of the House Education Committee, which would increase the current salary minimums for teachers over the next five years to $40,000 for Level I, $50,000 for Level II and $60,000 for Level III.

HB 67 was re-introduced in the form of HB 391 over the weekend to increase salary levels to mirror the original HB 67. Republican House Education committee members darted Read More

Rep. “Moe” Maestas

STATE News:

• House Memorial 93 Passes House Floor Unanimously

SANTA FE—House Memorial 93, sponsored by Majority Whip Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Bernalillo, calls on Gov. Susana Martinez, Albuquerque Mayor R.J. Berry and the Bernalillo County Commission to conduct a dialogue on the possibilities of building a soccer specific stadium and bringing a Major League soccer team to New Mexico. HM 93 passed the house.

Maestas introduced HM 93 to begin the conversation here in New Mexico. It’s his dream to bring a MLS team to Albuquerque, and he truly believes the capacity Read More

STATE News:

SANTA FE—Omaree’s Law, House Bill 333, sponsored by House Speaker W. Ken Martinez, D-Bernalillo, Cibola McKinley, Socorro, San Juan, Valencia, received a Do Pass from the  House Judiciary on a 13-4 vote, and it now heads to the house floor.

About the Bill:

House Bill 333, sponsored by Martinez and co-sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Sandoval and Rio Arriba, Rep. Emily Kane, D-Bernalillo and Rep. Liz Thomson, D-Bernalillo, requires CYFD to immediately take custody of children showing specific injuries of abuse, and requires the parents, Read More

LEGISLATIVE News:

House Highlights

On the Floor

House Bill 10, as amended DWI Sentencing & Interlocks, sponsored by Rep. Emily Thomson (D-Bernalillo-24) and co-sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard (D-Los Alamos, Sandoval, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe-43) & Rep. Tim Lewis (R-Sandoval-60), has passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 51-5. HB 10a Creates a new method for enforcing ignition interlock device rules by requiring evidence that the ignition interlock has recorded no more than two tests at a level greater than .05 during the six months prior to reinstatement of a driver’s Read More

Rep. Mary Helen Garcia

LEGISLATIVE News:

Legislation focuses on intervention, remediation and assessment by Third Grade

SANTA FE—Legislation guaranteeing that every child from K-3 will be provided with intensive remediation if they are struggling to read has passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 34-29.

The House Committee Substitute for House Bill 93, Academic Success Through Remediation Act, sponsored by Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Doña Ana, also provides for a team approach to determine whether a student should be promoted to the next grade. The committee substitute addresses Read More

Sen. Michael Sanchez

STATE News:

SANTA FE—The Senate Finance Committee Monday night voted 8-2 to ’table without prejudice’ a Senate Joint Resolution that would have let New Mexico voters decide in a constitutional amendment whether to extend the current 5.5 percent funding level taken from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to a total of 7 percent.

Concerns about the resolution grew among some legislators that the Land Grant Permanent Fund would be depleted over time. However, the sponsor of the measure, Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Valencia and Bernalillo), told members Read More