By Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico — The Torrance County Commission met for about two minutes Wednesday morning to extend an agreement allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to continue housing detainees at its local jail, a little more than 12 hours after the New Mexico Senate voted to ban such agreements. The Torrance County […]
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Posted inCity Desk ABQ, Courts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Legislature #nmleg
New NM law sparks ICE showdown: Will this new law change operations at MDC?
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB9 into law Thursday, creating a legal firewall between New Mexico local governments and federal immigration agents. While the move marks a major statewide shift, Bernalillo County officials say their facilities are already ahead of the curve. Known as the Immigrant Safety Act, HB 9 bars state and local agencies […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Healthcare, New Mexico Legislature #nmleg, NM Political Report
Governor Lujan Grisham signs Medical Licensure Compact for docs into law
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill today that enables doctors from other states to obtain New Mexico licenses more quickly. The bill, Senate Bill 1, enters New Mexico into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. In this compact, a physician licensed in a state like Texas or Colorado can fast-track their relocation to practice in […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Legislature #nmleg, NM Political Report
Bill to close ICE facilities in New Mexico signed into law by Gov
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill today designed to end New Mexico’s involvement in federal civil immigration detention. House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, prohibits public bodies from entering into, renewing or extending agreements to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations. The bill also bars public bodies from selling or leasing public […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Legislature #nmleg, NM Political Report
Gov set to sign bill closing ICE facilities in New Mexico
New Mexico is set to end its involvement in federal civil immigration detention following final Senate passage of the Immigrant Safety Act on Feb. 2. The legislation, House Bill 9, creates a “bright line” between state and local resources and federal immigration enforcement, potentially forcing the closure of three detention facilities that collectively hold more […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg
Governor expected to sign bill that would ‘cut red tape’ and address New Mexico physician shortage
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is set to sign legislation that would allow out-of-state doctors to help fill New Mexico’s physician shortage by joining an Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Following a unanimous House vote Tuesday approving the Senate bill, the governor’s office says Lujan Grisham intends to sign the bill into law Thursday morning. The compact […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ, Local Government
Why Albuquerque can’t agree on short-term rentals, even as illegal listings grow
The Albuquerque City Council rejected a proposal Monday night to limit short-term rentals, marking the third time in three years a version of the policy has failed. The 5-4 vote defeated Ordinance O-26-5, which would have required 100-foot buffer zones between rental properties. The measure failed despite last-minute changes to narrow the scope and delay […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ, Local Government
Short Agenda, big decisions: ABQ Council to weigh rentals, Q&A and budget report
The Albuquerque City Council meets at 5 p.m. Mon. with a short agenda that includes final votes on two key ordinances: one affecting short-term rentals and another on how councilors question Mayor Tim Keller’s administration. The meeting also includes a report on first-quarter finances, which shows revenues $5.1 million above projections. The proposed short-term rental […]
Posted inNM Political Report
Vasquez joins Trump in push to limit Wall Street home buys
In a rare moment of bipartisan overlap, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., and President Donald Trump have both advanced similar proposals aimed at curbing Wall Street’s role in the single-family housing market. On Jan. 20, Trump issued his executive order, “Stopping Wall Street from Competing with Main Street Homebuyers.” One week later, Vasquez announced his […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg
Democrats surprise with amendment to exempt doctors, but not hospitals, from punitive lawsuit damages
Addressing concerns that New Mexico’s unlimited cap on punitive damages deters doctors from practicing in the state, Democrats in a key House committee pushed through a surprise compromise, of sorts, on Friday morning. House Bill 99 emerged from the House Health and Human Services Committee with a cap on punitive damages for malpractice claims against […]