SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham celebrated the passage of House Bill 195, sponsored by Reps. Linda Serrato, Meredith A. Dixon, and Joy Garratt and Sen. Michael Padilla on Feb. 14. The legislation makes changes to the Opportunity Enterprise Revolving Loan fund at the New Mexico Finance Authority, opening it up to support housing infrastructure and workforce development housing projects. The bill is accompanied by a $125 million appropriation to the fund for housing in the FY25 budget.

The NMFA, which will administer the OERF, will build on their success with local governments and businesses to address current housing needs. The funds will also incentivize local governments to...

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB 171 into law, a bill that updates high school graduation requirements in New Mexico for the first time in over a decade, on Feb. 10.

“High school should be about preparing students for the real world while providing more opportunities to pursue their unique interests and future careers,” the governor said. “These changes will lead to more young New Mexicans staying engaged in school, graduating, and continuing that success in their adult lives.”

The requirements outlined in HB 171 will impact students entering the ninth grade in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill makes key changes to graduation requirements that better align...

SANTA FE —  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 141 to increase salaries for New Mexico judges on Feb. 10.

“I am pleased to be able to assist the Legislature in making this a reality,” Lujan Grisham said. “Through this bill, we are investing in our current and future workforce.”

Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon thanked the governor and New Mexico legislators for their support.

“We appreciate the support of the governor and the Legislature for this investment in state courts to meet the legal needs of New Mexicans. Improved judicial salaries will help attract mid-career lawyers with a diverse legal background to serve as state court judges,” she...

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement following the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee’s vote to table SB 122 on Jan. 29:

“I am dismayed that our Legislature has once again refused to undertake an honest, robust debate on the state of our pretrial release system. Crime is out of control and something needs to change. We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in behavioral health services, education, economic opportunity – critical components that ensure every New Mexican gets a fair shake. However, I will not stand by as repeat violent offenders walk in and out of our courthouses without consequence," Lujan Grisham said. “A rebuttable...