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You are here: News Politics Gov. delivers 2025 State of the State address

Gov. delivers 2025 State of the State address

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SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivered her seventh State of the State address Jan. 21, laying out legislative priorities for 2025 that include public safety, affordable housing, child welfare, health care, economic development, and more.

“Working with the legislature over the past six years, we’ve achieved so much in New Mexico from reducing child poverty, to ensuring free college for every New Mexican, to adding a record number of jobs and strengthening health care and environmental protections,” Lujan Grisham said. “Of course, there is still more to do. That’s why I’m proposing new initiatives to tackle our crime problem, expand affordable housing, protect at-risk children, improve our health care system, and more. I look forward to working with lawmakers over the next 60 days to create an even better New Mexico.”

Some of the governor’s specific proposals for the New Mexico Legislature’s 60-day session include:

PUBLIC SAFETY

  • Updates to criminal competency laws to ensure individuals repeatedly cycling through New Mexico’s courts receive treatment instead of being released.
  • Stronger penalties for convicted felons in possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime.
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
  • Establishing a state Office of Housing supported with funding and expertise.
  • $50 million in development subsidies to build houses for people who are priced out—making homebuying more affordable in New Mexico.
  • $50 million to fight homelessness with dedicated services that lift individuals up and help them become stable, productive members of society.
CLIMATE AND ENERGY
  • Updates to the Oil and Gas Act.
  • Establishing a state-sponsored fire insurance program outside the private market to protect families and their homes – and to help make people whole when tragedy strikes.
  • A strategic water supply for clean energy projects, advanced manufacturing, and even putting out wildfires.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
  • Providing $20 million to assist in expanding or relocating qualified business entities that are stimulating economic development and producing public benefit.
HEALTH CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND CHILD WELL-BEING
  • Establishing an independent Child Protection Authority, jointly appointed by the legislature and the executive, that ensures the Children, Youth, and Families Department adequately resolves all complaints from families and foster parents.
  • Moving the responsibility for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act that helps pregnant mothers and newborns affected by substance abuse—to the Department of Health.
  • Investing an additional $50 million in the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund and $100 million in behavioral health expansion.
  • Establishing a state-sponsored medical malpractice program.
EDUCATION
  • Making the new Office of Special Education permanent in law—establishing consistent statewide standards for all K-12 special education students.
  • Establishing a $50 million annual investment in the Indian Education Fund.
  • Creating a comprehensive math and STEM program to match the state's strides in literacy.