This category will include items sent to the Beat from the 2024 NM Legislative session. 

House Passed Budget With $300 Million for Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund

Bipartisan Investment in Land & Water Conservation, Agriculture & Outdoor Recreation Projects Now Heads to the Senate

Santa Fe, N.M. – Jan. 31, 2024 - Today the coalition supporting the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund released the following statement after the New Mexico state House of Representatives voted to approve HB2, the General Appropriation Act of 2024, which contained a $300 million appropriation for the state’s first dedicated and long-term funding stream for land and water conservation, agriculture and outdoor recreation projects.  

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Senators Steven Neville and Craig Brandt Issue Statement Following the Passage of SJR 9

Constitutional Amendment asks voters to remove PED from the executive branch

SANTA FE—Today, in a near unanimous show of support, the New Mexico Senate advanced Senate Joint Resolution 9 on a vote of 36-1. The bill, introduced by Senator Steven Neville (R-Farmington) and Senator Bill Soules (D-Las Cruces), proposes an amendment to the Constitution of New Mexico to remove the Public Education Department from the executive branch and establish an elected and appointed state board of education.

“I am grateful to my Senate colleagues for their support of this proposition,” said Senator Neville. “This is a positive step forward in ensuring continuity in education so our students are not subjected to the political instability between administrations. I urge my colleagues in the House to support this landmark legislation and I hope the voters will approve this measure come November.”

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Governor issues statement on another year of inaction

Governor issues statement on another year of inaction by the Legislature to keep violent offenders behind bars

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement following the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee’s vote to table SB 122.

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Senator Craig Brandt Issues Statement After Democrats Kill ‘Revolving Door’ Bill

SANTA FE—Today, Senate Republican Whip, Senator Craig Brandt (R- Rio Rancho) presented Senate Bill 122 before the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. Despite support from top law enforcement officials and prosecutors, Democrats on the committee tabled the bill on a 5-4 vote. The bill would have changed the law to allow for the holding of violent offenders pending trial to ensure they do not commit further crimes. 

Following the tabling of the bill, Senator Brandt issued the following statement:

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The New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services

Michelle Lujan Grisham - Governor

Brig. Gen. Jamison A. Herrera - Acting Cabinet Secretary

Military & Veterans Day at the 2024 Legislature Is Set for Saturday, February 3

State Capitol/Downtown Santa Fe 411 South Capitol St.

Ceremony at noon in the Capitol Rotunda Doors open @9 a.m. for exhibits and informational tables

(Santa Fe) – Military veterans, National Guard/Reserve, and active service members will be honored on Military & Veterans Day at the 2024 Legislature on Saturday, February 3, at the State Capitol in Santa Fe.

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Senator Craig Brandt Applauds Advancement of Law Enforcement Recruitment Bills

SANTA FE—Senate Republican Whip, Senator Craig Brandt (R- Rio Rancho), today applauded the advancement of two law enforcement recruitment bills through the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. Senate Bill 87 would allow retired law enforcement officers and first responders to return to work while collecting their retirement. Senate Bill 124, meanwhile, would allow law enforcement officers from other states or those with federal law enforcement service to buy up to five years of service in the state’s retirement system. 

Senator Brandt issued the following statement regarding the advancement of these bills:

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Senator Craig Brandt Issues Statement Following Advancement of Racketeering Bill

SANTA FE—On Friday, Senate Bill 102 advanced through the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support. The bill aims to strengthen the state’s racketeering law to give prosecutors an additional tool to go after modern criminal organizations.  

Senate Republican Whip, Senator Craig Brandt (R-Rio Rancho), the bill’s sponsor, issued the following statement regarding the bill:

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Convention of States Resolution Introduced

House Joint Resolution 12, co-sponsored by Representatives Randall Pettigrew (R Roswell), John Block (R Alamogordo), and Jimmy Mason (R Artesia), has been introduced in the NM House of Representatives. The Resolution calls for a convention of the states as prescribed in Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

If passed, New Mexico will become the 20th of the required 34 states calling for a convention to propose amendments to “[1] impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, [2] limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and [3] limit the terms of office for its officials and for Members of Congress.”

All states will participate in the convention, and any proposed amendments will be presented for subsequent ratification by at least ¾ (38) of the states.

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