New Mexico’s House of Representatives voted in support of Medicaid Forward (HB 400) March 7 in a 58-10 decision, advancing the legislation to the Senate with a show of bipartisan support. Bill sponsor Rep. Reena Szczepanski led floor debate on the legislation, joined by expert witness Nicolas Cordova, Healthcare Director with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. HB 400 directs the state to study a new affordable healthcare plan that would, using existing federal law, allow New Mexicans who currently make too much to qualify for Medicaid to access coverage through the program by paying for it via affordable, income-based premiums and copays.

“HB 400’s bipartisan support makes...

Representatives of a broad coalition of New Mexico organizations released the following statement March 9 after the House Appropriations & Finance Committee’s strong bipartisan vote of 17-1 with a “do-pass” recommendation on Senate Bill 9: The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, that would create the state’s first dedicated and long-term funding stream for land and water conservation. SB9 passed the full Senate Feb. 14 with a 33-7 vote. It now heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration, with a final appropriation amount to be determined as part of the larger budget bill known as House Bill 2.

“We’re grateful that bipartisan members of this committee and House...

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today celebrated the Senate passage of House Bill 9 sponsored by Representatives Pamela Herndon, D-N.M., Patricia Roybal Caballero, D-N.M., and Joanne J. Ferrary, D-N.M., and Senators Mimi Stewart, D-N.M., and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-N.M. The legislation will protect children by requiring gun owners to keep firearms safely stored.

The bill as amended in the Senate now heads back to the House for concurrence.


“I commend the members of the Legislature for joining me in efforts to keep New Mexicans safe by requiring safe storage of firearms," Lujan Grisham said. "I look forward to signing this important legislation following the concurrence by the...

Representatives of a broad coalition of New Mexico organizations released the following statement after the House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Committee voted 5-4 with a “do-pass” recommendation on Senate Bill 9: The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, that would create the state’s first dedicated and long-term funding stream for land and water conservation Feb. 28. SB9 passed the full Senate on Feb. 14 with a strong bipartisan vote of 33-7 vote. It now heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration.


“Investing in conservation is not just a financial commitment, it is a moral imperative,” Keegan King from the Native Land Institute, said. “The...