LEGISLATURE 2021

Latest News
Senate passes bill boosting ERB pension fund
Revised business loan program on its way to governor
Pandemic relief bill on verge of enactment
House passes budget on bipartisan 60-10 vote
Capitol fencing will stay for now
Campaign disclosure bill advances in Senate
Cannabis legalization bill headed to House floor
Paid leave, minimum wage hike supporters will press on
Lawmakers get their shot at vaccine-related bill
Solar energy powers up EOG oil and gas operations
House panel unanimously approves $7.4 billion budget plan
House passes human trafficking legislation
Black leaders assail ‘overtly racist conduct’ by lawmakers
Trade group wants changes in liquor license overhaul bill
Photos
Childhood & Education
Student athlete endorsement bill approved by Senate
House OKs early childhood amendment
Legislators question secretaries of education, HSD
House panel amends early childhood proposal
Education pension bill advances in Senate
Gov: Schools can reopen Feb. 8
Lawmakers push to give school boards opening authority
Education fuels rise of Mimi Stewart
PED requesting ‘near-flat’ $3.3 billion budget for schools next year
Early childhood amendment may find more receptive Senate
Crime & Enforcement
Senate advances bill on threats to public officials
House endorses NM Civil Rights Act
Bill would require disclosure of misconduct
Panel OKs corrections transparency bill
Potential cost of ban on private prisons draws fire
Union leader: Police under ‘attack’ by lawmakers
Bills would ban 3D-printed guns, revise red flag law
Omaree case cited in debate over rights act
Bill targets ‘pay to play’ judiciary perceptions
Legislators to weigh amended proposal for NM civil rights law
Bill would set statewide use-of-force standard
Taxpayer impact of civil rights bill sparks debate
Bill to outlaw use of private prisons advances
NM civil rights law passes first hearing
NM Civil Rights Act recommended
Proposed NM Civil Rights Act could be costly, legislators told
Chambers


Budget & Taxes
Paid leave, minimum wage hike supporters will press on
House panel unanimously approves $7.4 billion budget plan
Outlook improving for NM revenue
Bill to reduce NM small-loan interest rate cap advances
Tax panel in House passes liquor law changes
Capital transparency measure passes House 65-1
Bill to reduce NM small-loan interest rate cap advances
NM tourism officials make case for $25M funding boost
House panel backs Social Security tax cut
Paid leave bills hit speed bump at Roundhouse
House to weigh transparency for NM capital projects
NM pension fund director leaving for legislative budget job
NM public bank proposal gains momentum
Spending deadlines proposed for NM capital outlay funds
Liquor overhaul bill would allow home delivery
Teacher, state worker pay hikes in legislators’ plan
Lujan Grisham proposes $7.3 billion spending plan
Tax changes weighed to ease revenue volatility
Marijuana
Personal production limits in two cannabis bills draw scrutiny
First cannabis legalization bills filed at Roundhouse
Legalization advocates optimistic for next year
Q & A: Policy choices abound in legalization debate
How much green would recreational cannabis bring?
Legislative Overview








Pandemic Response
Pandemic relief bill on verge of enactment
Lawmakers get their shot at vaccine-related bill
Governor says she would veto emergency powers bills
$200M pandemic relief measure nears passage
Bill aims at additional protections for renters
House authorizes new pandemic relief grant program
Senate decisively approves pandemic relief package
Bill would help indebted utility customers
Pandemic recovery bills moving quickly at Roundhouse
Lawmakers weigh curbs on governor’s powers
Amid pandemic, Roundhouse adjusts to online work
Court rejects stay of House rules, wants quick response
House Republicans sue to override session rules
Relief bill with $600 tax rebates advances
NM legislators seek quick action on new pandemic aid package
Roundhouse Insider
Capitol fencing will stay for now
Campaign disclosure bill advances in Senate
Overhaul of liquor licenses advances
Trade group wants changes in liquor license overhaul bill
Black leaders assail ‘overtly racist conduct’ by lawmakers
Senate approves bill upping minimum wage for young workers
Supporters push for independent redistricting
Halfway home: Lawmakers hit crucial stretch
Ethics complaint accuses speaker of conflict
Bill aimed at bolstering NM broadband advances
Congressional vacancy bill narrowly advances
Black cabinet nominee faces racial scrutiny
NM Supreme Court rejects House GOP rules challenge
Job applicant disclosure bill derailed in Senate
Alcohol delivery bill advances in House
Congressional vacancy bill faces time crunch
Committee OKs independent redistricting commission
Top legislators’ lawyers defend House rules for remote work
Roswell legislator changes affiliation after abortion vote
Sick leave proposal takes shape in House
Tie vote keeps open primaries bill in committee
Court rejects stay of House rules, wants quick response
Counties could secede from state under long-shot proposal
House Republicans sue to override session rules
Roundhouse COVID cases prompt scrutiny, raise questions
Coronavirus cases emerge at Roundhouse
Bill to shield applicants’ names advances
Governor opposes proposal to scrap ‘pocket veto’
Bill would allow ‘fusion voting’ in NM elections
NM House approves plan for virtual session
Proposal for virtual session heads to House floor
The ‘COVID cohort’ joins Capitol
New Senate leader says deals did not drive committee decisions
NM lawmakers pause floor sessions for the week
NM Senate rejects transparency amendment
Muñoz takes reins of Senate Finance Committee
Session begins amid security, health restrictions
Mimi Stewart wins election to top NM Senate post
Checkpoints, new rules await lawmakers as session nears
Capitol prepares for a unique session
Legislators prepare for session with Capitol off-limits to public
Bill seeks to limit disclosure of top job applicants’ names
Stewart wins nomination for top NM Senate post
NM Senate Republicans elect Baca to top post
Energy & Environment
Bill to alter ETA tabled in committee
Agencies seek funds to boost climate programs, fill jobs
Environmental lawsuits bill draws criticism
Wastewater bill makes waves in Senate
House panel OKs $3.5M for 111 weather stations
NM impact of federal climate change orders scrutinized
Prescribed burning legislation advances in House
Bill aims for ‘just transition’ to green economy
Lawmakers debate energy act – again
Dogs caught in traps rekindle debate in NM
Report outlines state climate goals
Health & Family
House passes aid-in-dying legislation
Lawmakers send abortion-rights bill to Lujan Grisham
House passes medical malpractice law
Right to refuse is a key issue in abortion debate
Senate passes bill to repeal NM’s abortion ban
Bid to boost oversight of child welfare cases gains
Bill targeting NM abortion law advances to Senate floor
Aid-in-dying bill advances in House
Effort to repeal NM abortion ban advances
Changing court, Legislature set stage for NM abortion clash
NM lawmakers prepare bill on hair discrimination
State lawmakers get behind paid leave
Key Dates
Feb. 18: Deadline for bill introduction
March 20: Session ends (noon)
April 9: Legislation not acted upon by governor is pocket vetoed
June 18: Effective date of legislation not carrying an emergency clause or other specified date
Resources
Our team
Dan Boyd, pictured left in 2018, is the Capitol Bureau Chief for the Journal and has covered the New Mexico Legislature since 2008. He previously covered Santa Fe City Hall and worked for a newspaper in Idaho. After nearly a decade working there, Boyd rarely gets lost in the Roundhouse.
Dan McKay, center, joined the legislative team ahead of the 2017 session, when he learned more than he ever wanted to know about sponge bonds. Before that, he covered City Hall and county government in Albuquerque. McKay is an Air Force brat who graduated from the University of New Mexico.
Eddie Moore, right, lives in Santa Fe County and has been covering the New Mexico Legislature, state government and northern New Mexico as a news photographer for more than 20 years, sometimes with a patrician slant toward fishing.