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House Joint Resolution 1 would ask voters whether to amend the state’s constitution, taking the redistricting process away from lawmakers and giving it to an independent commission instead. It was nearly unanimously tabled in the House Judiciary Committee Monday, with lawmakers from both parties voting to set the measure aside, with only Democratic Rep. Andrea Romero voting against doing so.
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President of the New Mexico Chile Association Glen Duggins, has been growing green chile for almost 40 years. Now, citing labor shortages and competition from Mexico, he's giving up.
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After making his case to state Representatives for boosting New Mexico Environment Department funding to meet federal mandates, improve enforcement and retain staff, Sec. James Kenney said a House-approved spending proposal leaves the department with “an even larger budget hole.”
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A bill with the backing of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that would make it easier to detain New Mexicans accused, yet not convicted, of crimes has stalled in the Senate due to concerns it violates the state constitution.
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Lobbyists are spending big to get some facetime with legislators and lawmakers aren’t supposed to be raising money while on the job. Still, there’s a loophole and a proposed bill would close it.
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Childcare is expensive. But in New Mexico, the Early Childhood Education and Care Department provides subsidies to help contractors meet the needs of many families. All programs that provide the same services in the same type of facility for the same age groups get the same amount, but for-profit providers pay tax on those state dollars that nonprofit and government programs do not. Private providers are now asking the state Legislature to change that.
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A revived voting rights bill that died during a filibuster last year is on its way to the House for a vote. House Bill 4 would allow New Mexicans to sign up to get ballots for every election via mail. It would create a system for automatic voter registration. It would also turn Election Day into a school holiday.
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Among the crime bills in the legislative session this year is one that would detain certain people before trial without bond based on a presumption that they’re too dangerous to be released. If this bill is passed, the cost to state and local general funds for keeping defendants jailed and providing public defenders until trial would be just over $15 million annually.
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A bill that would make it a crime to negligently store a firearm so that it’s accessible to a minor has passed the state House of Representatives.
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Let’s Talk New Mexico 2/9 8am: Albuquerque has continued to set new homicide records, while legislative reports also show other violent and property crimes around the state are well above the national average. On the next episode of “Let’s Talk New Mexico” we’ll discuss public safety and what law enforcement and city and state government can do right now to curtail crime.