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 โ€œAntโ€ Thornton (R- East Mountains) introduced Senate Bill 49, a pilot project for a content-based library […]

Posted inAlbuquerque, City Desk ABQ, New Mexico Legislature #nmleg

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 Albuquerqueโ€™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:ย  The legislative session […]

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 Mexicoโ€™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 โ€œbright lineโ€ 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 โ€˜cut red tapeโ€™ 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 Mexicoโ€™s physician shortage by joining an Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Following a unanimous House vote Tuesday approving the Senate bill, the governorโ€™s office says Lujan Grisham intends to sign the bill into law Thursday morning. The compact […]

Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg

Democrats surprise with amendment to exempt doctors, but not hospitals, from punitive lawsuit damages

Addressing concerns that New Mexicoโ€™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 […]