Politics

Courtesy photo

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Feb. 17, 2026, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) convened his Agriculture Advisory Group at the Gutierrez-Hubbell House in the South Valley to hear directly from New Mexico farmers, ranchers, food banks, state officials, and agricultural advocates about their top priorities and challenges as Congress prepares to take up the 2026 Farm Bill next week.

The meeting brought together a broad cross-section of New Mexico’s agricultural community, including representatives from the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network, Read More

RPNM News:

SANTA FE — As we expected, this legislative session proved that Republicans are serious about wanting to make our communities safer, spend tax dollars efficiently and responsibly, & improve access to healthcare across our state. Democrats, however, approached the legislative session differently as they prioritized their ‘hate-everything-Trump’ policy agenda over everything else. Democrats went after Second Amendment rights, made New Mexico a safe haven for criminal illegal immigrants, increased government spending, and made every attempt to damage New Mexico’s Read More

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Thursday celebrated passage of landmark bills approved by the New Mexico Legislature during her final session, including medical malpractice reform, universal childcare and new public safety, health care and education initiatives.

The 2026 legislative session delivered a responsible, forward-looking budget that reflects New Mexico’s fiscal strength and the governor’s commitment to investing in New Mexicans. The FY 2027 budget totals $33.4 billion —including more than $11 billion from the general fund—and increases Read More

The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo

By MIKE EASTERLING
The Santa Fe New Mexican

It took nearly every minute of the New Mexico Legislature’s 30-day session to get it done, but a measure that will make zero-interest loans available for qualified, first-time buyers of starter homes earned legislative approval Thursday morning.

The Senate’s last-minute passage of House Bill 200 gave affordable housing advocates a late victory at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe just before lawmakers adjourned and headed home.

HB 200, designed to create the New Homes for New Mexico Program, was Read More

State Engineer Elizabeth Anderson

STATE News: 

SANTA FE – A bill raising the maximum penalty for illegal water use from $100 to $3,400 per day—the first major update to New Mexico’s water enforcement authority in more than a century—is headed to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk after passing the legislature with near-unanimous bipartisan support.

House Bill 111 modernizes the Office of the State Engineer’s (OSE) enforcement tools against illegal water use at a moment when scarcity is intensifying across New Mexico. Once signed, the measure will mark one of the most significant updates Read More

State House Speaker Javíer Martinez, D-Albuquerque, and Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, embrace following a Democratic news conference at the Capitol after the 2026 legislative session ended Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham laughs while listening to final comments made by members of the House of Representatives during her final news conference to conclude the 2026 legislative session on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

By DANIEL J. CHACÓN and CLARA BATES
The Santa Fe New Mexican

In years past, Gov. Read More