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...

SANTA FE – Representatives of a broad coalition of New Mexico organizations praised the New Mexico State Senate Feb. 14 for passing SB9, 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 on a bipartisan 33-7 vote and now heads to the House of Representative for consideration


“Land, water, and wildlife stewardship is finally getting the love it deserves this session,” , said. “Thanks to the bipartisan leadership of Sens. Wirth and Neville, New Mexico is well-positioned to make historic investments in our land, water, economy and culture through this critical fund. Now...

 

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order on Feb. 17 that will transform the way New Mexico serves and protects the state’s most vulnerable children and families. The order requires immediate changes in how the Children, Youth, and Families Department operates and sets out a long-term vision for how the department will strengthen its practices.

“This is a system that is fundamentally broken, and this executive order sets in motion immediate and meaningful action to transform this system,” Lujan Grisham said. “We are coming together with partners in the Legislature, experts working in the field, and children and families themselves to do everything in...

The New Mexico Department of Health applauded the bipartisan passage of Senate Bill 397 from the Senate Education Committee to codify school-based health centers in New Mexico law. It now moves to the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Nancy Rodriguez and Rep. Christine Trujillo.


“When students are healthy, they are able to learn, grow and thrive,” Dr. Laura Parajon, Deputy Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health, said. “We are committed to bringing healthcare where children are and school-based health centers provide access to students who might not have otherwise gotten care.”


School based health centers have operated in...