Bill expanding primary voting rights to some 17-year-olds heads to governor
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The measure would allow 17-year-olds to vote in the primary if they will turn 18 before the general election. Continue Reading
House panel kills bill to help shore up lottery scholarship fund
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Their action effectively leaves the struggling scholarship program without any means to shore it up until next year’s legislative session. Continue Reading
Should consensual teens be prosecuted for sexting?
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While a bill to toughen child-pornography penalties makes its way through the Legislature, some disagree with the attorney general’s opposition to an exemption that would protect some teens in consensual relationships from prosecution if they send photos to each other. Continue Reading
Readers mourn the death, once again, of ethics commission bill
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Many New Mexicans are upset that a proposal to create a state ethics commission has met its death once again in the Senate Rules Committee. Continue Reading
Bill to expand use of Narcan to fight overdoses awaits Senate vote
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With the Legislative session ending Thursday, a bill to expand the use of a powerful drug to reverse opioid overdoses is still waiting for a final vote on the Senate floor. Continue Reading
House votes to archive its webcasts online beginning next year
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The change is intended to increase citizen access by giving those who can’t attend meetings in person or watch webcasts live a way to catch up at their convenience. Continue Reading
Bill would give Los Alamos County officials full-time jobs, hefty pay hikes
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Four elected officials in Los Alamos County could receive almost a tenfold increase in pay through a bill that cleared the state Legislature on Tuesday. Continue Reading
Advocates rally to keep state’s behavioral health funding intact
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The rally came days after the state Senate approved an amended budget that would cut such services by $3.7 million. Continue Reading
AG opposes teen ‘sexting’ exception in amended child porn bill
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In a cantankerous hearing Tuesday night, a Senate committee approved a bill to increase penalties for those who manufacture, distribute and possess child pornography, but not until adding an exception for consensual cases of teenage “sexting.” Continue Reading
State racing clock to avoid loss of millions in federal special-ed funds
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Time and money are both running out as state education officials try to broker a deal with the U.S. government by the end of the legislative session, at noon Thursday, to prevent the loss of at least $34 million in federal funding for special-education programs. Continue Reading
Bill would forbid campaign spending on mani-pedis and medical costs
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The bill, sponsored by Rep. Nora Espinoza, who is running for secretary of state, would prohibit expenditures to defray “normal living expenses” for the candidate and his or her family members. Continue Reading
With Senate committee about to make it ‘toothless,’ Dines withdraws ethics commission bill
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Once again, the state Senate has confirmed its status as the graveyard for ethics legislation. Continue Reading
We cannot quit on capital outlay reform
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We are the only state that expects the Legislature to approve a capital outlay bill without any system for planning, vetting or selecting projects. Continue Reading
Sen. Michael Sanchez can reform government, but he doesn’t want to
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And the people aren’t ready, yet, to rise up and make him. Continue Reading
Senate panel passes gallery access bill, but prospects poor
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Security crews denied ordinary people access to the gallery of the House of Representatives on opening day, when Republican Gov. Susana Martinez gave her State of the State speech. In response, Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez proposed prohibiting reserved seating during joint meetings of the House and Senate. Continue Reading