PATRICK LOHMANN/ Source New Mexico A Senate committee on Monday approved legislation that would put half a billion dollars toward affordable housing in New Mexico – a huge investment that one lawmaker said is necessary to stem the tide of homelessness and rising housing costs in the state. Sen. Nancy Rodriguez (D-Santa Fe) acknowledged that […]
State Government
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, New Mexico, State Government
Gov’s push for panhandling law meets pushback
This story is published in partnership with the Santa Fe New Mexican as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque. Thank you to donors whose support allows us to license these stories. Donate to allow us to continue to bring stories like this. By […]
Posted inNew Mexico, State Government
Bill would stop libraries from banning books
Nicole Maxwell/Source New Mexico A bill in the state legislature proposes preventing public libraries from banning books based on political or religious views from what one of the bill’s sponsors calls “hate groups.” HB 123 aims to prevent public libraries from receiving funding if they do not adopt and comply with the American Library Association’s Library Bill […]
Posted inNew Mexico, State Government
Five things Gov. Lujan Grisham is asking for this legislative session
By Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico | In a speech to state lawmakers on Tuesday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham outlined wide-ranging priorities for a packed 30-day session that she said would “capitalize on this momentum” generated in the four years since she became governor in 2019. Between several interruptions by a group of environmental and […]
Posted inNew Mexico, State Government
Activists interrupt New Mexico State of the State address
by Austin Fisher, Source New Mexico | Protesters disrupted Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s State of the State address on Tuesday calling on her and lawmakers to demand a transition away from fossil fuels and a ceasefire in Gaza. Three separate times, protesters stood up from their seats in the gallery above the House of Representatives […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, crime-courts, Housing & Homelessness, State Government
Advocates say housing, not harsher criminal penalties, will reduce crime
Albuquerque’s crime problems improve when affordable housing is addressed, not by instituting more severe penalties and longer jail sentences for offenders. That was the message a coalition of community advocates delivered to lawmakers during a virtual news conference held ahead of the New Mexico Legislature’s 30-day session which convened in Santa Fe today. Members of […]
Posted inNew Mexico, State Government
State Rep. looks to repeal background checks on firearms purchases
New Mexicans looking to purchase firearms have undergone background checks more than 414,000 times since the state’s law mandating pre-purchase checks took effect in July 2021. That’s 414,000 too many for State Representative Stephanie Lord (R-Sandia Park) who is also the founder of Pro-Gun Women, a gun rights advocacy group. She has introduced legislation to […]