Alamogordo NM
1-21-2025 9:47pm

Legislative Session Begins in New Mexico State of the State and Local Legislator Update

The new legislative session in New Mexico begins with the Governor issuing a state of the state speech. Within the legislature over 100 bills have been pre-filed in the state house while over 70 bills have been pre-filed in the state senate.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico on Tuesday, January 21st, 2025 delivered her seventh State of the State address, laying out her 2025 legislative priorities that included public safety, affordable housing, child welfare, health care, economic development and more.

“Working with the legislature over the past six years, we’ve achieved so much in New Mexico from reducing child poverty, to ensuring free college for every New Mexican to adding a record number of jobs and strengthening health care and environmental protections,” Lujan Grisham said. “Of course, there is still more to do. That’s why I’m proposing new initiatives to tackle our crime problem, expand affordable housing, protect at-risk children, improve our health care system and more. I look forward to working with lawmakers over the next 60 days to create an even better New Mexico.”

Some of the governor’s specific proposals for the New Mexico Legislature’s 60-day session include:

Public safety:

  • Updates to criminal competency laws to ensure individuals repeatedly cycling through New Mexico’s courts receive treatment instead of being released.
  • Stronger penalties for convicted felons in possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime.

Housing and homelessness:

  • Establishing a state Office of Housing supported with funding and expertise.
  • $50 million in development subsidies to build houses for people who are priced out—making homebuying more affordable in New Mexico.
  • $50 million to fight homelessness with dedicated services that lift individuals up and help them become stable, productive members of society.

Climate and energy:

  • Updates to the Oil and Gas Act.
  • Establishing a state-sponsored fire insurance program outside the private market to protect families and their homes – and to help make people whole when tragedy strikes.
  • A strategic water supply for clean energy projects, advanced manufacturing, and even putting out wildfires.

Economic development:

  • Providing $20 million to assist in expanding or relocating qualified business entities that are stimulating economic development and producing public benefit.

Health care, behavioral health & child well-being:

  • Establishing an independent Child Protection Authority, jointly appointed by the legislature and the executive, that ensures CYFD adequately resolves all complaints from families and foster parents.
  • Moving the responsibility for CARA—the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act that helps pregnant mothers and newborns affected by substance abuse—to the Department of Health.
  • Investing an additional $50 million in the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund and $100 million in behavioral health expansion.
  • Establishing a state-sponsored medical malpractice program.

Education:

  • Making the new Office of Special Education permanent in law—establishing consistent statewide standards for all K-12 special education students.
  • Establishing a $50 million annual investment in the Indian Education Fund.
  • Creating a comprehensive math and STEM program to match our strides in literacy.
  • Providing a substantial increase for programs and services at the Early Childhood Education and Care Department.

In the Alamogordo area Rep. John Block has pre-filed three pieces of legislation...

An increase in taxes on renewable energy businesses instead of decreasing oil excise taxes. 

An act encouraging censorship on media companies disguised as an act to protect minors. 

An act supporting permitless concealed carrying of firearms.

Senator Nick Paul has no prefiled legislation at this time. 

Senator Townsend has no prefilled legislation at this time.

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