Governor candidates show up for opening day

For years, the New Mexico Constitution has limited the scope of 30-day sessions to budget-related bills and those authorized for consideration by the governor.

But that could change under a bipartisan proposal that passed the House on a 59-3 vote on Tuesday.

The measure, House Joint Resolution 7, would allow all bills to be considered in 30-day sessions, which take place in even-numbered years.

That would make the shorter sessions similar to the 60-day sessions held in odd-numbered years that do not have any limitations on which type of bills can be discussed.

"This is not a partisan issue, this is a pro-Legislature issue," said Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, during Tuesday's debate.

"We should control our own agendas," he added.

The measure, which would have to be approved by statewide voters in November in order to take effect, now advances to the Senate for consideration.

After hours of debate, House Bill 9 passed the Senate on a near party line vote of 24-15.

The bill could close immigration detention centers in New Mexico in Torrance, Cibola and Otero counties.

The bill now heads to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. The Governor's office told the Journal today that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham supports and will sign the bill.

Immigrant right's advocates in the Senate gallery cheered after the vote.

"We are living in a dangerous national moment," said Sen. Cindy Nava, D-Bernalillo. "Rhetoric has escalated into threats. Threats have escalated into violence and what happened elsewhere is not so distant to us."

An amendment that would have compensated Otero, Torrance and Cibola counties for lost tax revenue as a result of immigrant detention facilities closing, was narrowly shot down by a 20-19 vote.

Before the vote, some lawmakers representing the affected counties pleaded with the Senate to step in and provide economic relief.

“Dignity should never be compromised for revenue,” said Sen. Angel Charley, D- Acoma. “Justice should never be traded for economic survival…We can take a moral stand and still do right by the people who will feel the impact the most — Cibola County has already given more than its share.”

Debate is ongoing on the Senate floor, which has been open for more than 4 hours.

The New Mexico Senate spent nearly three hours on announcements ahead of a divisive bill that could shut immigrant detention centers in New Mexico.

Republican lawmakers have vocally opposed the bill, though they don't have the numbers to stop the proposed legislation's advancement in either chamber.

A series of back-to-back monologues by Republican Senators about unrelated subjects from riding horses to Black History Month lasted more than two hours.

When asked if the speeches were an unofficial filibuster, New Mexico Senate Republican spokesperson Brandon Harris denied that Republicans were attempting to run the clock, saying that Republicans were simply "highlighting priorities."

New Mexico's 30-day legislative sessions held in even-numbered years are often described as a sprint.

This year's legislative dash will hit its halfway on Wednesday, which is also the last day for legislation to be filed.

However, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham can still issue executive messages authorizing filed bills for legislative consideration throughout the session's duration.

This year's legislative session ends Feb. 19.

House Bill 9 passed the House on a 40-29 vote, successfully reaching the halfway point toward becoming law.

Though a similar bill also passed the house last year by 35-25 vote, this measure saw additional support and criticism.

"HB nine does not pretend that we can control the federal government," said cosponsor Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces before the vote. "It does something more honest. It says New Mexico will not be complicit."

The bill could close three immigration detention centers in New Mexico.

During ongoing debate on House Bill 9, Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo drilled one of the bill’s sponsors on potential financial ramifications of passing the proposed legislation.

Block told the House floor that he has had conversations with officials in President Donald Trump’s administration who threatened to further cut federal funding to the state if HB 9 is passed.

“Are you okay, (that) once we pass this legislation, we might lose out on billions of dollars in revenue?” Block said. “All because we want to make a statement with a bill that actually doesn't do anything to stop (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) whatsoever.”

The bill’s cosponsor, Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, fired back, saying that morals are worth more than money.

“I think we're keenly aware as a state that this administration has taken away billions of dollars from us already,” Romero said. “...Mr. Speaker, gentleman, we will not be bullied by this. We will stand in our rights. We will stand in our values.”

During debate in the House, some legislators expressed fear of economic downturn in their communities if House Bill 9 passes. Immigration detention centers are primary employers in several rural counties.

Rep. Patricia Lundstrom D-Gallup, though she said she condemns U.S. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement’s actions, also said her constituents will lose jobs and tax revenue if the bill passes.

“We need help, We need help,” Lundstrom said. “All our base industries have been swept away.”

Lundstrom pleaded with legislators to dedicate $50,000 of their capital outlay pools to aid the rural area’s economy.

In response, House Speaker Rep. Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque said he would personally dedicate $100,000 of his capital outlay to Lundstrom's district.

The New Mexico House of Representatives have started the debate clock on House Bill 9, a proposed law that could shutter Immigration Detention Centers in New Mexico. The bill is expected to pass the house, though it has fierce opponents in several legislators from rural New Mexico.

Under House rules, the bill can be debated for a maximum of three hours before a vote must occur.

New Mexico Tech Day was Thursday at the New Mexico Legislature. Students and staff from NMT showcased research and programs. See video.

A gun bill backed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that has drawn the ire of some New Mexico firearm retailers is scheduled to get its first committee hearing on Wednesday.

The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee's agenda includes for the day includes Senate Bill 17, which is sponsored by four Democratic lawmakers.

The bill would impose new requirements on licensed gun dealers, including inventory tracking and increased security measures.

It would also prohibit such dealers from selling machine guns and certain other types of firearms.

The bill is backed by Everytown for Gun Safety, a New York-based group that has also advocated for past gun safety measures in New Mexico.

But critics say the proposed law would not reduce gun theft in New Mexico, adding local firearms dealers already must comply with strict federal tracking requirements for all guns.

It might be time for another debate over Daylight Saving Time in New Mexico.

Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo, has filed a bill, House Bill 112, that would adopt daylight saving time as the year-round standard of time for the entire state.

The proposal marks the latest attempt to exempt New Mexico from the twice-per-year practice of changing clocks.

Previous bills have sparked debate, but none have ultimately advanced to the governor's desk for final approval.

Currently, Daylight Saving Time is not observed in Hawaii and most of Arizona, along with several U.S. territories.

The next time change is set for March 8 -- or about two weeks after this year's 30-day session ends.

New Mexico is currently the only state in which legislators are not paid a salary.

But that would change under a proposed constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 5, that was filed this week at the Roundhouse by Reps. Cristina Parajón, D-Albuquerque, and Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces.

The proposal, which would have to be approved by voters in the November general election, would tie legislator's pay to the annual median household income for New Mexico.

That figure was $62,125 as of 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Backers say paying lawmakers a salary would allow a broader swatch of New Mexicans to run for the Legislature.

But lawmakers do currently receive a per diem payment — currently set at $202 per day — intended to cover their food and lodging expenses while in session.

They can also qualify for a legislative pension plan after serving 10 years in the Legislature.

With the 30-day legislative session set to get underway at noon, the Roundhouse has been buzzing with activity.

A line began forming at 7:30 a.m. to secure a spot in the House public gallery, with members of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration, political candidates and advocates among those waiting for a seat.

The governor will deliver her annual State of the State Address after the Legislature officially starts its business -- her final such speech as governor.

While lawmakers waited for the clock to strike noon, mariachis entertained House members and their guests and lawmakers posed for selfies.

The public is now required to pass through metal detectors to enter the Roundhouse, a change implemented by lawmakers during the COVID-19 pandemic.