My friend,

This was another busy week at the Roundhouse for the Legislature, where a lot happened.

First, on Monday in Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee, I voted for H.B. 88, the Firefighter Recruitment Fund, to reward our great, hardworking firefighters.

On Tuesday in the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee (CPAC), Rep. Stefani Lord and I fought two extreme anti-gun bills, H.B. 114 and H.B. 27, for hours, poking massive holes in the radical bills. H.B. 114 will put a target on all who sell, manufacture, market, or otherwise are involved in the gun industry, which will open them up to costly lawsuits lodged by just about anyone who hates guns. H.B. 27 will expand the Democrats’ “red flag” law to further infringe upon Second Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights, allowing any medical professional to file a complaint and then after a year, allow the state to melt down the person’s guns. Both measures passed on 4-2 party-line votes. These measures later passed the House Judiciary Committee and now head to the House floor.

The committee chair cut off debate in grievous violation of the House rules, and I called her out on it, as reported here.

The committee also passed a bill to give free feminine hygiene products to prisoners, including in men’s prisons. Rep. Lord and I voted against the bill. It passed on a 4-2 vote.

On Thursday, Rep. Lord debated hard in a six-hour CPAC meeting against three more anti-gun bills:

  • H.B. 137 banning all semi-auto and all “high capacity” firearms and forcing those who do own them to register with the government.

  • H.B. 127 taking guns away from law-abiding 18-20 year-olds.

  • H.B. 129 mandating a 14-day waiting period for all firearms purchases.

On Wednesday in House Government, I voted against H.B. 122 by Rep. Kathleen Cates (D-Rio Rancho), which would look to take more counties’ authority. I voted for H.B. 124 by Rep. Randy Pettigrew (R-Lovington) to create a committee to review the governor’s departments’ rules, such as the horrible rule to force all school districts to become 180-day years without 4-day school weeks.

On Friday, I voted against H.J.R. 7 by Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Las Cruces) in the same committee, which would create a commission to give legislators salaries. I also voted against H.J.R. 5 by Rep. Natalie Figueroa (D-Albuquerque), which would have increased all legislative sessions to 60 days.

I voted for H.J.R. 1 and H.J.R. 2 to change all sessions to two 45-day sessions and force the governor to give a reason for all vetoes.

Today in House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee, I presented by bill, H.B. 150, to force renewable energy to pay the same amount of excise taxes that oil and gas pay (3.75 percent). The bill died on a 6-4 party-line vote.

Bills I dropped this week:

  • H.B. 223 with Rep. Stefani Lord to institute Voter ID in New Mexico

  • H.B. 250 to ensure the safety of disabled people in state care (group homes) with electronic monitoring in common areas.

  • H.B. 255, with Sen. David Gallegos (R-Eunice), will create a new license plate featuring the beautiful “Don’t Tread On Me” Gadsden Flag to promote firearm safety.

  • H.J.R. 12 (cosponsored) with Rep. Randy Pettigrew to convene a convention of states, per Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

  • H.M. 18 (cosponsored) with Rep. Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) to support Israel amid the attack by Hamas terrorists.

  • H.M. 24 to support border security and call Congress to act on the immigration catastrophe.

  • H.M. 26 to put Democrat states booting Trump from the ballot on notice and promote disenfranchised voters in states like Colorado and Maine to move to New Mexico to vote here.

  • H.M. 27 to condemn Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for her illegal executive orders to snatch gun rights and call for her impeachment.

See all the legislation I am sponsoring here.

This week, Democrats are going to try to pass their extreme H.B. 41 “clean fuels standard,” which will increase gas prices by at least 50 cents per gallon. Other bills will also be heard in what is called “third reading.”

IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK:

WATCH—KOB 4: House committee approves proposed changes to the red flag law

Santa Fe New Mexican/Taos News: ‘The voters are my bosses’: How 4 N.M. lawmakers look at their job

Rio Rancho Observer: Republicans Push To Limit Emergency Powers NM Governors Hold