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 […]
NM Political Report
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 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 […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg, NM Political Report
Democrats advance assault weapons ban through State Senate
Democrats advanced an assault weapons ban through its first legislative committee last night over the objections of Republicans, gun dealers and 2nd Amendment advocates concerned it would ban some of the most popular firearms sold and transferred in New Mexico today. “This bill represents perhaps the worst mockery of the Second Amendment in state history,” […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg, NM Political Report
Momentum builds in New Mexico legislature to ban ICE facilities statewide
New Mexico legislators began hearings today on legislation to prohibit local governments from contracting with prison companies and the federal government to create immigration detention facilities. Members of the House Judiciary Committee kicked off a hearing on the bill Wed. afternoon as local elected officials from Cibola and Torrance County, where two of the state’s […]
Posted inCorporate Responsibility, NM Political Report
Oilfield service company cited for ‘serious’ safety failures after workers exposed to flammable gas
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) recently cited Banta Oilfield Services, Inc. for two serious safety violations after inspectors found that employees were exposed to flammable gas last summer while performing maintenance at an oilfield site near Eunice. According to the citation issued by the department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau in late December, inspectors […]