NM Legislature

The New Mexico State legislative session began this week and since it’s an even year, it will last only 30 days. Next year's session will last 60 days. KUNM asked former legislator Dede Feldman to explain how shorter sessions work, and may not be long enough to create good policy.

Housing expert with the Pew charitable Trusts, Alex Horowitz, gave a presentation to lawmakers Tuesday about New Mexico’s housing shortage, and possible solutions that have already been proven in several other states.

Do you ever wonder what lawmakers do when the legislature is not in session? Aside from their regular jobs and personal lives, they’re attending interim committee meetings around the state to hear from experts and the community on pressing issues impacting New Mexico.

In Santa Fe, state agencies galore made their case for a piece of the state’s expanding general fund this week as they presented budget requests. KUNM’s Daniel Montaño reports the state’s newest agency pitched a second year budget $3.1 billion more than its first year’s

Big wildfires earlier this year damaged the acequias that funnel water to New Mexico’s rural farms and communities. Diversion structures were destroyed, silt and debris filled many existing water channels and water flow changed paths. Monday acequia managers asked lawmakers in Santa Fe to fully fund acequia disaster response.

Storefront lenders scored a win in Santa Fe Tuesday when the House Business and Employment Committee unanimously sidelined an effort to cap interest rates…