New Mexico State Legislature

The New Mexico Senate passed the Medical Malpractice Changes bill Tuesday night with only two votes against after arguing for almost three hours over ammendments eventually left off the bill. New Mexico has some of the highest malpractice payouts in the country, and House Bill 99 limits the damages awarded to about $900,000 for an independent provider and up to $6 million for a hospital.

Just one day after it was created by the state legislature, the "Epstein Truth Commission” met for the first time this morning. The Commission announced the beginning of an investigation into illegal activity at sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro ranch outside of Santa Fe. The commission will issue subpoenas and compel testimony if necessary to get the “full picture” of what happened on the nearly 10,000 acres of remote high desert.

Over the weekend, the Senate approved a tax package that includes provisions that would exempt affordable housing projects from paying tax on construction and labor. The bill is hurtling through the legislation process as the final day of the legislature this Thursday looms ever closer. The bill passed its second committee on Friday, only two days before Sunday’s Senate floor vote.

A controversial gun bill passed its second test in the Roundhouse Wednesday night. The bill, which is aimed at curbing illegal gun sales, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 6-3 party line vote. Senate Bill 17 seeks to stop guns from getting into the hands of criminals by regulating and recording sales at dealers, and by restricting particular types of weapons.

Imagine if all parents who gave their children an allowance then asked for a percentage of that money back to pay for rent. That’s what some people say is happening when it comes to building affordable housing in New Mexico, and they want to change that this legislative session. If passed, a bill currently working through the roundhouse would exempt affordable housing developments from paying gross receipts tax on construction materials and labor

Abandoned, derelict and long forgotten-lots across the state are in the sights of proposed legislation offering major tax breaks for redeveloping the eyesores.The bill would let developers tap $4 million in tax incentives for up to 40% of the property’s value if they can prove it’s been abandoned for five years.

New Mexico lawmakers approved $162 million in state funding to ensure food assistance for citizens until January 20. The bill passed both chambers with minimal pushback, although it did come with an amendment to look into how the program is run.

New Mexico legislators are set to discuss how the state could help keep public broadcasting on the air at a special session on Wednesday.

On Thursday, health advocates told lawmakers that increasing extreme heat is impacting Indigenous people’s wellbeing and traditional ways of life.

State lawmakers recently made their disappointment clear with the Department of Health during a presentation of an evaluation of the state’s medication assisted treatment program for substance use disorder. It came just weeks after an announcement that DOH would be expanding the program.