Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s final regular legislative session started a little rocky but delivered her many of her biggest priorities and legislators introduced dozens of bills responding to federal policy changes implemented under President Donald Trump’s return to office. In the 30-day session, legislators sent the governor bills effectively closing private prisons detaining federal immigration […]
New Mexico Legislature #nmleg
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg, New Mexico Statewide News
New Mexico legislators launch commission to investigate Epstein’s Zorro Ranch
The New Mexico House of Representatives unanimously passed House Resolution 1 on Monday, creating an “Epstein Truth Commission” to investigate allegations of criminal activity and public corruption tied to the former Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County, a 10,000-acre property previously owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The temporary investigative committee will include Democratic […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg
Should New Mexico buy PNM? Lawmaker says yes
A state senator has a different idea for the future of New Mexico’s largest electric utility: Have the state buy it. Sen. Harold Pope (D-Westside Albuquerque) introduced Senate Memorial 9 alongside State Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-South Valley) Friday asking the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) to pause Blackstone Infrastructure’s proposed $11.5 billion purchase […]
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ABQ legislators push to let City collect millions more in speed camera fines
A bill by two Albuquerque-area legislators moving through the Roundhouse could let Albuquerque keep an extra $2 million to $3 million a year in traffic fines — a shift that would cost the state roughly $5 million and remove current audit requirements. Senate Bill 91, sponsored by Albuquerque Democratic Sens. Heather Berghmans and Antoinette Sedillo […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg
State Senate votes down Clear Horizons Act, opening door for next gov to change state’s climate, enviro policies
Seven Democrats joined with Republicans in the State Senate Wednesday to defeat keystone climate legislation to codify some of the country’s most ambitious climate legislation into law before Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham leaves office at the end of this year. SB18, The Clear Horizons Bill, was written to make permanent several climate goals implemented by […]
Posted inNM Political Report
Stansbury views unredacted Epstein files about New Mexico’s Zorro Ranch
“There aren’t words to describe what are in those files,” said Stansbury in a low, almost hushed, tone after emerging from a closed-door viewing of some of the unredacted Epstein files on Tuesday. “It’s very clear that the United States government has failed to hold perpetrators accountable for decades in this case with the original […]
Posted inNM Political Report
Competing book ban bills gather dust on the shelf as legislators look toward session end
A bevy of competing book ban bills to govern how libraries respond to requests for removing books have made little progress in the legislature, despite months of build up and organizing by the sponsors. As promised, State Sen. Anthony “Ant” Thornton (R- East Mountains) introduced Senate Bill 49, a pilot project for a content-based library […]
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Will massive new funding push the New Mexico State Fair out of the city?
Jesse Jones, City Desk ABQ — The New Mexico Senate approved nearly $100 million in bonds Friday for the State Fairgrounds redevelopment, advancing a long-debated project. The investment could reshape Albuquerque’s International District with new housing and parks, or it could lead to relocating the State Fair after 87 years in the city. The Senate […]
Posted inEast Mountains, New Mexico Legislature #nmleg, Route 66 Independent
Commissioner Olivas pitches legislators to fund millions in East Mountain, BernCo projects
Commissioner Olivas targets legislators for District 5 funding In the final two weeks of the legislative session, Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas is asking state legislators to direct discretionary funding toward nine public infrastructure projects that could improve the quality of life in District 5. The projects located in District 5 include: He also directs […]
Posted inEdgewood, New Mexico Legislature #nmleg, Route 66 Independent
Edgewood commissioners pitch legislators on funding millions in local road projects
Edgewood commissioners including Ken Brennan, Patrick Milligan, and Mike Rariden met with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Senator Anthony Thornton, R-East Mountains, and Representatives Stefani Lord, R-Tijeras, and Matthew McQueen, D-Edgewood, about receiving capital outlay funding for several road maintenance projects in Edgewood. Commissioners have requested funding from the state for these projects: The legislative session […]