Jan. 22, 2025
Governor kicks session into gear
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham kicked things off in the first session of the 57th Legislature with the annual State of the State address before both houses of the state legislature Tuesday afternoon. Her address covered lots of ground but the emphasis was in three areas: public safety, behavioral health and fixing CYFD (Children, Youth and Families Department).
The Governor called for tougher penalties on persons who commit violent crime while in the possession of a firearm and tough penalties for those trafficking deadly drugs like fentanyl. She also proposed a tax credit for businesses who invest in security. This year’s address had virtually no rhetoric or proposals directly related to firearm legislation. While Democrat legislators still worked that avenue hard last year the Governor had put her influence behind bills related to sentencing. When none of that was accomplished at sessions end she called a special session on public safety but the Democrat-controlled House adjourned without addressing any bills she had proposed. These days she seems to have more favor with Republicans than her own party where criminal reforms are concerned. She still has a powerful political stick and knows how to wield it so it is likely some public safety bills will move quickly. East-side Democrat Jack Chatfield R-Mosquero says he’s excited that the Governor spent so much time on public safety. “I think there’s some very worthy goals in there,” Chatfield said. “We are where we are because of some of the things we haven’t done in the past. I think we’ve missed some magnificent chances in the past,” he told the Santa Fe Reporter.
Grisham told lawmakers that one of the things she would like to see is $205 million put toward completing universal child care. “Let’s become the first state in America to give every child the start they deserve with universal access to high-quality child care today and for the future.” As far as CYFD she proposed creating a Child Protective Authority to oversee the work of the agency, which is the source of lawsuits and a continuing poor reputation for its service. The Authority she proposes would be staffed by appointments from the administration and the legislature and would report to lawmakers every six months. She also proposed beefing up the lack of quality foster caregivers by adding an additional $900 per month per child to in stipends and exempting foster care, including grandparents raising their grandchildren from personal income tax.
The Governor called for an additional $100 million be invested into providing behavioral health services throughout the state. She also proposed $1 billion in aid to the state’s healthcare network, in particular, rural healthcare providers, which are on the brink of closure in some cases. She also continued her support of a strategic water reserve initiative, which would treat brackish water and utilize it for industrial uses. She also threw out the idea of creating a fire insurance authority to make certain that residents and businesses, such as those Ruidoso affected by wildfire could continue to afford fire insurance.
While Lujan Grisham struck a positive tone in her address as far as the economy, Sen. Pat Woods R-Broadview was more skeptical about expanding state bureaucracy, as he delivered the Republican response. “What are the burdens we’re putting on our businesses that just cause then to leave the state,” he said. “A businessman cannot stay in business if he can’t make a profit.”
No cell phones in classrooms
One proposal thrown out by the Governor that may have lots of support is a bill to ban cell phones from classrooms. It’s happened in other states but seems pretty bold in our digital age. This reporter will log in to the debate from his own cell phone as soon as that debate starts.
Legislators learn committee assignments
Our east-side legislators mostly held on to their previous committee assignments with Chatfield on Appropriations & Finance and Education. Andrea Reeb kept her seat on House Judiciary as well as Labor,Veterans & Military Affairs along with Rules. Martin Zamora will serve on House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs along with Agriculture, Acequias & Water Resources. Woods still serves on the powerful Legislative Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Committees. Freshman Senator Pat Boone of Roosevelt County will serve on Education and Health and Public Affairs. He attached his name to his first bill as co-sponsor of SB 8 dealing with a program to forgive student loans for veterinary students for service in under-served areas of the state.
Grab the low hanging fruit
Democrat lawmakers are pledging to move fast to pass some of the most important bills where good consensus is present on public safety and child welfare. They’re promising a flurry of quick action by mid-week next week. That would be amazing if that happened. Maybe unicorns will prance the halls of the Roundhouse too. We’ll keep you posted.
