State

Office Of The State Engineer Enforcement Bill Heads To Governor’s Desk After Strong Bipartisan Support

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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

New Mexico Legislature Wraps Up 30-Day Session After Busy Final Week

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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

Ringside Seat: Saints & Sinners At The Statehouse

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By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican

The great Damon Runyon said he preferred writing about losers because they were more entertaining than winners.

His premise doesn’t hold up in modern-day New Mexico.

Two big losers from the state’s 30-day legislative session are Democratic Sens. Peter Wirth of Santa Fe and Joe Cervantes of Las Cruces. They are lawyers who represent plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases.

Both senators should have excused themselves from every debate and all votes on a bill to cap punitive damages that juries can award in malpractice cases.

Cervantes introduced a Read More

New Mexico Secretary Of State Highlights Passage Of Critical Election Bills In 2026 Legislative Session 

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Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver 

STATE News:

The 2026 New Mexico legislative session saw the passage of multiple bills that fortify the existing accessibility, stability and security of New Mexico’s elections.

“New Mexico currently ranks first in the nation for election administration, and I commend the legislature on helping ensure we remain at the top of that list. With the passage of SJR 1, eligible voters will have the opportunity in November to eliminate discriminatory provisions in our Constitution that date back to when women could only vote in school elections Read More

Bill To Ensure New Mexico Students Receive High-Quality Research-based Literacy Instruction Heads To Governor

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

STATE News:

SANTA FE — A bill that would ensure New Mexico students receive high-quality, research-based literacy instruction aligned with the science of reading has cleared both chambers of the legislature, and the governor plans to sign it into law.

The New Mexico House of Representatives unanimously approved Senate Bill 37—the High-Quality Literacy Instruction Act—last night following the Senate’s unanimous vote in favor of the bill Jan. 29.

“SB 37 builds on my administration’s long-term strategy to give every New Mexico child a solid foundation for educational Read More

New Mexico Legislature Approves SB101 To Make Hospital Funding Program Permanent; Bill Heads To Governor

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NMHCA News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Legislature gave unanimous approval Tuesday to Senate Bill 101, legislation that would permanently extend a state program supporting hospitals that serve Medicaid patients across New Mexico. 

SB 101 passed with unanimous bipartisan support, clearing the Senate 31–0 and the House 57–0. 

The bill repeals the sunset clause in the Health Care Delivery and Access Act and ensures continued financial support for eligible hospitals that care for Medicaid members.  

“Making this program permanent helps ensure hospitals across New Mexico have the stability Read More

Two Mexican Nationals Removed To U.S. To Face Federal Drug Trafficking Charges In New Mexico

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Two Mexican nationals were removed to the United States to face federal drug trafficking charges in New Mexico.

Daniel Alfred Blanco-Joo, 39, made his initial appearance today in New Mexico after being removed from Mexico on a five-count indictment charging him with conspiracy, distribution of fentanyl, distribution of an analogue of fentanyl, and international money laundering conspiracy.

David Eliezer Seas-Centeno, 43, made his initial appearance today in New Mexico after being removed from Mexico on a charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Federal Read More

‘Light To Online Learning’: Funding Crisis Prompts Focus On Virtual Education

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Third Grader Titus Van Wyk attends a virtual math class at the New Mexico Destinations Career Academy from his family’s kitchen table on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. Virtual schools have been a flashpoint this legislative session, as legislators debate tightening regulation for the first time in nearly two decades. Jim Weber/The New Mexican

By ANDRÉ SALKIN
The Santa Fe New Mexican

GLORIETA — The van Wyk kids’ virtual avatars scuttled across a wintry digital landscape, weaving among those of nearly 100 other cyber students from around the state—some shown in virtual wheelchairs—during Read More

House Dems Pass Critical Healthcare Bills, Including Medical Malpractice Reform

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NMDP News:

SANTA FE — Feb. 14, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed three important bills to improve access to high quality, affordable healthcare statewide. All three bills are part of the House Democrats’ comprehensive healthcare agenda for this session and each now heads to the Senate for consideration. 

House Bill 99, which makes targeted changes to New Mexico’s medical malpractice laws to improve the climate for doctors and providers while protecting patient safety, passed the House floor by a vote of 66-3. 

“New Mexico’s doctor shortage leads to longer wait times and delayed Read More

Weekly Fishing Report: Feb.19, 2026 

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By GEORGE MORSE
Sports and Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post 

The warm winter weather has appears to have ended a brief ice-fishing season here in Northern New Mexico. Eagle Nest Lake was open for about a week, but deteriorating ice conditions led to its closure. Fenton Lake has yet to open for ice fishing, along with Lake Maloya and Lake Alice at Sugarite Canyon State Park have not opened for ice fishing.

There was very limited stocking activity in Northern New Mexico this past week. This week’s fishing report will be short.

Small streams at higher elevations are starting to ice up. The Rio Pueblo, Santa Read More