‘Thirty days is tough:’ Gov and party leadership reflect on session

SANTA FE — The 2024 Legislature didn’t bring passage of all public safety measures Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wanted, but she and Democratic and Republican leadership agreed that a lot got done in 30 days — though not everyone measured success in the same way.

Of the 658 bills introduced in the session ending Thursday, 72 pieces of legislation— or about 11% — made it to the governor’s desk. Dozens more memorials and resolutions also passed through the Roundhouse.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham so far has signed three bills into law, so another 69 bills are hoping for her approval. Anything she doesn’t sign by March 6 is pocket vetoed.

Democratic leadership said after the session some of the things they are proud of include the budget, tax package, education, environmental policies and public safety.

Republicans felt pride in standing up for New Mexico businesses, for the energy industry and against “bad bills,” but disappointment in New Mexico’s progress this session on issues like crime and righting the Children, Youth and Families Department.

Passed and in governor’s hands

Lujan Grisham said coming into this session she wanted a big focus on public safety.

She said at a news conference on Thursday that three bills lawmakers passed will save lives: the seven-day waiting period for gun purchases, the no bond hold legislation and not allowing guns within 100 feet of polling places.

“Thirty days is tough, but a lot got done in the last several days,” Lujan Grisham said.

Originally, the seven-day waiting period legislation would have required twice as long a pause on gun purchases, but a House floor amendment halved it. Similarly, the House amended the polling place legislation, adding an exception for concealed carry licensees.

Even so, House Minority Leader Ryan Lane, R-Aztec, criticized the gun legislation the Roundhouse passed , saying Democrats failed to meaningfully address crime in New Mexico.

“Guns are not the issue,” he said. “Our issues in New Mexico are more foundational.”

Besides the waiting period and polling place legislation, Lujan Grisham had a handful of successes from her public safety agenda. A bill to increase penalties for attempted murder and second-degree murder passed Wednesday. Large raises should also be heading to state police and some other public safety personnel. Some public safety retirees will be able to return to work to fill law enforcement and corrections vacancies.

One of the largest pieces of legislation Lujan Grisham has waiting on her desk is the $10.2 billion budget. She said she’s proud of dollars set aside for the environment and conservation, infrastructure, health care and education.

Some items may not make it through, though. Lujan Grisham has to release her list of line-item vetoes by March 6.

That could include a move lawmakers approved in the budget that would prohibit the Public Education Department from using money to establish a minimum of instructional days for public schools, which Lujan Grisham supports.

While she plans to move forward with the 180-day rule, Lujan Grisham said it’s too early to say if she would line-item veto the provision in the budget bill. She said she doesn’t make rash decisions until she reads the entirety of the bill.

“I’m certainly going to look at that very carefully,” she said.

The governor also got her ask for a structured literacy institute, which received $30 million in capital outlay funding. She too received $30 million in the state budget bill for summer reading programs, which an early estimate predicted would reach some 10,000 students who are behind grade level.

A bill overhauling graduation requirements, providing for more student choice but also keeping the minimum number of units needed to graduate, also flew through both chambers of the Roundhouse, becoming the first major bill to be signed into law.

While Lujan Grisham vetoed a version of that measure last year, her office worked with the bill’s sponsors and the Legislative Education Study Committee in the interim to amend the bill, and she supported it this session.

Lawmakers also made progress on environmental measures. They passed a bill to establish clean fuel standard. Lujan Grisham said the four years it took to pass was four years too long.

Additionally, in the tax package, Lujan Grisham said environmental and EV tax credits are a responsible measure people wanted.

“Frankly, I think this leadership ought to be copied by the rest of the country,” she said.

Gone, but not forgotten

Lujan Grisham said she’s frustrated many of her public safety measures didn’t pass and is considering a special public safety session.

“Both houses are well aware that I’m frustrated,” she said.

Among the failed gun legislation she backed was a ban on assault weapons, a bill to set the minimum age of 21 to purchase guns, and a measure to bring more accountability measures to the firearm industry.

Each of those bills passed their respective House committees but were not heard on the chamber’s floor.

“The waiting period is the one that statistically has the most impact,” said Speaker of the House Rep. Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque. “... Our job here is to be smart about what we pass and be targeted about what we pass in the community.”

The most momentous failure that actually made it to the floor was likely the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, a program that would set up a state fund employees and employers would pay into to enable paid leave. It fell short by two votes, with 11 Democrats joining Republicans to vote against it.

House Minority Leader Lane called that measure’s failure a “resounding win” for New Mexico’s businesses and employees.

“The fact that that bill came to a screeching halt on the House floor, I think, sends a huge message,” he said. “... It’s not flexible for business owners (or) for employees that don’t want to participate in that system. And so I think that should be a resounding wake-up call.”

Another big point of contention this session was the strategic water supply, a move to create a market for treating oil and gas and brackish wastewater that drew opposition.

Lujan Grisham said any water that’s unsafe should be cleaned up, and she’s been meeting with water stakeholders for the past five years on this measure.

“I will tell you that this is something that I benefit from, which means I believe New Mexicans benefit from it,” Lujan Grisham said.

Another environmental measure that didn’t get through was a move to increase oil and gas royalty rates. That’s something Public Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richards has said would benefit the state.

Housing was also a priority for Lujan Grisham that didn’t make it as she had hoped.

A bill to create an Office of Housing, for which Lujan Grisham even testified in person at a Senate committee, died without making it to the Senate floor.

Undeterred, the governor said Thursday, “We’re going to do it, and we’re going to do it in a way that I think in the next 60 days people will see more cooperation between all entities.”

The Legislature did send along $125 million for housing development. Lujan Grisham pointed out that lawmakers sent money to the Mortgage Finance Authority, New Mexico Finance Authority and homelessness, and there still other dollars the Department of Finance and Administration can give out.

Outside of the realm of measures the governor explicitly endorsed, a measure to establish a tribal education trust fund also failed, marking the second year in a row it’s done so.

Sponsor Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, said coming to an agreement between several sovereign governments on the trust fund was a challenge.

“I made the principal decision that I don’t believe that it’s in anybody’s best interest, especially with tribes, to have a public display or discourse of disagreement,” Lente said. “... That’s the kind of discussion that happens behind closed doors.”