New Mexico Senate Floor Action For March 9, 2023
New Mexico Senate News:
SANTA FE – Today, the New Mexico senate: passed legislation supporting geothermal energy research & development, unanimously advanced a measure increasing funding for senior programs, and recognized the critical need to shore up acequia disaster response and hazard mitigation.
Below is a summary of these measures and a complete list of all the additional legislation passed today on the senate floor.
Bolstering Geothermal Resource Development
Today the Senate passed Senate Bill 8, a priority piece of legislation for New Mexico Senate Democrats that promotes Read More
Op-Ed: Concern With Limited Access To Valles Caldera
By SETH GAYNER
Los Alamos
I am writing to you about access to the Valles Caldera National Preserve. I have lived in neighboring Los Alamos, NM since 1999 and am concerned about the very limited access to the preserve, even as a local. The Preserve does not operate as an NPS unit, rather it continues to operate as it did when it was a Trust. Furthermore, management does not listen to safety and access concerns when raised by visitors or staff, and is working to limit access to the preserve even more rather than expand it.
There is a management plan in place to provide more access to the cabin district. While Read More
Local New Mexico Organization First Born To Host Second Annual International Symposium April 6-14, 2023
FIRST BORN News:
The First Born® Home Visiting Symposium returns for its second annual virtual event in 2023.
This free international event will be held online April 6-14, 2023, and is designed to provide a platform for professionals, researchers, and policymakers in the field of home visiting, along with early childhood education and development to come together and share best practices and information.
This year’s symposium will take a closer look at home visiting through an equity lens, with experts from across the industry providing insight and strategies to create systems that are Read More
SFCC & Highlands University Sign Articulation Agreement
Santa Fe Community College at 6401 Richards Ave. Courtesy/SFCC
SFCC News:
SANTA FE — Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) and New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) have signed an articulation agreement so SFCC students who complete either an Associate in Arts in Accounting or Business Administration can easily transfer to NMHU to pursue either a Bachelor of Business Administration or a Bachelor of Sciences in General Business.
Barry Hubbard, Ph.D., SFCC Dean of Trades, Advance Technologies and Sustainability & the School of Business, Professional Studies and Education said, “This Read More
FBI: Pedro Lee Benally Charged With Aggravated Abuse Of Child In Indian Country
FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced Wednesday that Pedro Lee Benally made an initial appearance in federal court facing two charges of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country.
Benally, 29, of Montezuma Creek, Utah, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending a detention and preliminary hearing.
A federal grand jury indicted Benally Feb. 23. According to the indictment and other court records, Benally Read More
Bennie Hargrove Gun Safety Act Heads To Governor’s Desk
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
STATE News:
SANTA FE — House Bill 9, also known as “Bennie’s Bill”, cleared its final step in the legislature Wednesday.
The House voted 34-28 to concur with the Senate on amendments made to the bill. The bill will now head to the desk of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has already expressed her support for it, to be signed into law by April 7.
House Bill 9 is a commonsense safe storage bill to protect children from gun violence and tragic accidents by making sure adults store their firearms responsibly. The bill is named in honor of Bennie Hargrove, the Albuquerque Read More
Silver Alert: Jorge Guzman Of Santa Fe Is Missing
NMSP News:
SANTA FE — The Santa Fe Police Department is asking the public for assistance in locating Jorge Guzman, 75, of Santa Fe.
He is 5’5” tall, weighing 160 lbs., with hazel eyes, gray hair and a gray mustache.
He was wearing blue jeans, a blue T-shirt and a ball cap. He was last seen at around 11 a.m. March 8 leaving the 1200 block of Zepol Road in Santa Fe.
He was driving his white 2014 Ford F-150 with a New Mexico license plate of 584-TLT. He was going to Romero Park to walk his dog.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jorge Guzman is asked to contact the Santa Fe Police Department at 505.428.3710 Read More
Ethics Bill To Prevent Abuses Of Power Passes House
STATE News:
SANTA FE — House Bill 5 passed the House Wednesday night with a unanimous vote of 61-0.
This bill updates the Governmental Conduct Act to make the exchange of sexual acts for official favors from government officials or legislators in a quid pro quo arrangement an ethics violation.
It also increases the maximum penalty for an ethics violation from $5,000 to $10,000.
“We cannot tolerate sexual coercion or harassment from our elected leaders and public officials,” lead sponsor Rep. Kathleen Cates (D-Rio Rancho) said. “Every New Mexican should feel safe in interactions with our government Read More
Bipartisan Community Safety Bill Heads To House Floor
STATE News:
SANTA FE — An important community safety bill will now head to the House Floor, after unanimously passing the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday.
House Bill 306 would make it a fourth-degree felony to knowingly purchase a firearm for another person who cannot lawfully own it or intends to use it for a crime.
“Far too much of the gun violence in our state can be attributed to those who have no business owning firearms in the first place,” said Rep. Raymundo Lara (D-Chamberino). “Closing the current straw purchase loophole will help us keep guns out of the wrong hands and reduce violent Read More
HB 134 Free Menstrual Products In Schools Goes To Senate
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A student-driven bill that would require all public schools in New Mexico to stock restrooms with free menstrual products is headed to its final proving ground in the Legislature.
The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday voted 4-1 in approval of House Bill 134, drafted by three teens who attend Albuquerque Academy. The bill now goes to the full Senate.
Rep. Christine Trujillo, D-Albuquerque, a sponsor of HB 134, said the budget bill for fiscal year 2024 includes $1.2 million to fund the measure.
Maddy Hayden, Read More
New Mexico [External Sources]
- Mitch's Kentucky outshines New Mexico for once | Local News | santafenewmexican.com - Santa Fe New Mexican
- New Mexico United to host MLS team in US Open Cup - KRQE News 13
- Montana State women further bolster backcourt with New Mexico transfer Hannah Robbins - Montana Sports
- Hannah Robbins transfers from New Mexico to Montana State - The Montana Standard
- Warm for western New Mexico, cloudy and cool east - KOAT New Mexico
- The United Family donates more than 50,000 pounds of apples across Texas and New Mexico as part of the Take a Bite Out of Hunger program - KCBD
